An Analysis of the Association of Adult Obesity and Socioeconomic Factors in the State of Maryland

Prevalence of obesity is increasing in an alarming rate in most states in the US including Maryland. Nearly 60% of adults in the state of Maryland are regarded as overweight or obese and the prevalence of obesity has risen by 47% between 1995 and 2004; from 16.3% to 26.3%. The lack of adequate local research on the association of adult obesity and socioeconomic factors is the impetus for this study. Objective: To analyze the association of socioeconomic factors and adult obesity in the state of Maryland. Methods: A secondary analysis of quantitative data was carried out using existing data on a total of 7848 Maryland adults who participated in the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Chi-square and Regression techniques were used to analyze association between variables. Results: There was no statistically significant association between socioeconomic factors and adult obesity in Maryland. Even though a chi-square test for association was significant (Χ²(3) = 12.05 and P-value = 0.007) between education and obesity, a regression analysis showed no significant predictive value for income, employment and education when adult obesity is the outcome variable (Χ²(15) = 17.80, with P-value = 0.273). Potential confounding variables including age, gender, race, smoking, alcohol and exercise were also controlled for in a second regression model, and socioeconomic factors (employment, income, and education) did not show a statistically significant odds ratio. Conclusion: The current study, as in many other previous studies, confirmed the epidemiologic complexity of the relationship between adult obesity and socioeconomic status.