Socioeconomic inequalities affecting adult obesity in rural Bangladesh: evidence from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey

Abstract

The rising prevalence of obesity represents an important public health issue. The burden of obesity is increasing in the world as well as in Bangladesh. This research aims to know whether socioeconomic inequality exists in obesity in rural Bangladesh and what is the magnitude of the inequality. Study has used Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) 2015 data to measure the true association between socio economic status and obesity. Potential variables like age, gender, job of residence etc. are controlled at the time of analysis. To moderate the effect of confounders, stratum specific odds ratios are calculated. After determining the potential confounders, a logistic model is fitted including those confounders to assess the actual effect of socio economic status on obesity. From stratum specific logistic regression, it is seen that among the rich rural women odds of being obese is 74% higher compared to poor rural women, whereas among the rich rural men odds of being obese is 45% higher compared to poor rural men. Also Prevalence of obesity is apparently higher in coastal divisions, whereas lower in north divisions. A division wise gender-sensitive policy should be developed to address the inequality in obesity.