271180 Determinants and magnitude of Racial/Ethnic disparities in adult overweight and obesity prevalence in Mississippi: Evidence from BRFSS to inform public policy and intervention strategies

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 12:42 PM - 12:54 PM

Sule Ochai, PhD , Health Policy and Management, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Lei Zhang, PhD MBA , Office of Health Data and Research, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Mario Azevedo, PhD , Epidemiology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
     
Background: The increasing prevalence of adult overweight and obesity (OB) in the USA has reached an epidemic proportion. While the national prevalence rates of these conditions continue to challenge public health theory, the rates for the State of Mississippi (MS) are overwhelmingly burdensome. For example, based on the 2010 BRFSS, the national prevalence of OB stands at 36.2% and 27.5% respectively, while the corresponding rates for MS stand at 34.3% and 34.5%. The prevalence rates of OB in MS do vary by race with 65.3% for whites compared to 75.1% for blacks. The question yet to be adequately addressed is: what are the underlying determinants and causes of racial/ethnic differences in OB in MS?

Objectives: To quantify the determinants of racial/ethnic disparities in adult OB; and to determine the degree to which the disparities are explained by differences in observed and unobserved characteristics.

Methods: Using MS BRFSS from 2005-2010, we performed statistical analyses to estimate racial/ethnic disparities in OB. Non-linear extension of Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition techniques were used to identify the most important factors associated with the observed disparities.

Results: The percentage of blacks who are OB is significantly higher than the whites. Observed characteristics explained most of the differences in OB. In particular, SES explains a greater percentage of the disparities.

Conclusions: Unobserved factors appear insignificant in explaining racial/ethnic disparities; socio-demographic and behavioral differences seem to be the critical factors. Public policies targeting socioeconomic empowerment of minorities to stimulate their adoption of healthful behaviors are needed for health disparity reduction.

Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economics
Chronic disease management and prevention
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
• Identify determinants of overweight and obesity in adult population • Understand the degree of the contributions of socio-demographic and behavioral factors in explaining racial/ethnic differences in overweight and obesity prevalence • Understand the importance of socioeconomic differences in explaining racial/ethnic differential in overweight and obesity prevalence in Mississippi

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved in the analyses of racial and ethnic disparities research both as a graduate student and independent university professor and researcher
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5159.0: Public Health Policy and Aging