Khoa D Truong ^1* Roland Sturm ²

¹ The Pardee RAND Graduate School
² RAND

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: truong{at}rand.org.

	Abstract

Objectives: To compare US weight gain trends across sociodemographic groups between 1986 and 2002. Methods: Analyze mean and 80th percentile Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated from self-reported weight and height for subpopulations defined by education, relative income, race, and gender. Data are from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a random-digit telephone survey for a total sample of 1.88 million adult respondents. Results: All sociodemographic groups experienced increasing weight gain, generally by similar amounts. There was no statistically significant difference in increase of mean BMI across educational status, with the exception that individuals with a completed college degree gained less. The lowest income group gained as much weight on average as the highest income group, but lowest income heavier individuals gained weight faster than highest income heavier individuals. There were no differences across racial/ethnic groups other than non-Hispanic Blacks gained weight faster than other groups. Women gained weight faster than men. Conclusions: There are fewer differences between subpopulations in weight gain than commonly expected, especially by relative income and education. Women and non-Hispanic Blacks gain weight faster than other groups.

Key Words: Obesity, Overweight, Underweight

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