More Obesity Among Poorer Women But Not Poorer Men In America

More debunking of the socioeconomic cause of fatso-ness.

Contrary to what many people think, poorer American males are not more likely to be obese than their richer counterparts; but adult females nearer the poverty levels are, according to a new report issued by the National Center for Health Statistics. Rates of adult male obesity are fairly similar throughout all income levels, the authors reveal, with a slight increase among higher income men.

The number of obese adults in the USA has been growing steadily for the last few decades and does not appear to be slowing down. 72 million US adults are estimated to be either obese or overweight today. Over 30% of all American adults are obese.

A number of studies have associated obesity with socioeconomic and educational levels. Unfortunately, the media has often extrapolated from very limited studies and spread a general impression that obesity is the poor man's epidemic.

And more data that fatso-ness is a condition of the stupid.

Education appears to have a more constant correlation with obesity across both sexes:

42% of adult females without a high school education are obese
23% of adult females with a college degree are obese
32% of adult males without a high school education are obese
27% of adult males with a college degree are obese

Data in which you can believe.