Socioeconomic factors affecting the probability of obesity: evidence from a nationwide survey in Turkey

• Published in: Quality & quantity Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 239 - 255
• Main Authors: Selçuk, Işıl Şirin, Köktaş, Altuğ Murat, Toygar, Şükrü Anıl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2023; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alcohol use; Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes; Health aspects; Health care expenditures; Health insurance; Health problems; Health status; Health surveys; Mental health; Methodology of the Social Sciences; Obesity; Probability; Public health; Respondents; Smoking; Social Sciences; Social security; Socioeconomic factors; Surveys; Turkey; Obesity; Socioeconomic status; Population health; Generalized ordered logit model
• ISSN: 0033-5177; 1573-7845
• DOI: 10.1007/s11135-022-01362-4

Obesity, with its increasing incidence and prevalence, is a global and acute public health problem due to its high costs and strong negative relationship with many physical and mental health outcomes, including heart disease, diabetes, depression, and mortality. Hence, ascertaining the underlying causes of obesity is essential in improving public health. In this respect, this study investigates the effects of socioeconomic factors of individuals on obesity-related conditions using the Turkey Health Survey, which was conducted in 2016 and had 23,606 respondents, as a data source representing the whole country. Since the health questionnaire used in this study was based on the individual declaration, the “generalized ordered logit model” was used to ensure heterogeneity between categories. There are several striking results in the analysis. It was revealed that physically active individuals had the effect of reducing obesity rates in Turkey. It was also found that alcohol use and smoking did not have a significant effect on obesity rates. Unmarried respondents tended to be less obese compared to those who were married, while female respondents were more prone to obesity than their male counterparts. Finally, having social security insurance had a positive effect on obesity rates, while higher incomes increased the risk of obesity.