South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics
Is Obesity and Overweight in Kerala a Phenomenon of Disease of Affluence?
By K. Ramla.
Abstract
Background
Overweight and obesity may be socially patterned during economic and nutritional transition, but the extent to which this pattern represents a disease-of-affluence phenomenon in Kerala requires examination. This study assessed whether overweight/obesity among adults aged 45 years and above in Kerala was associated with socioeconomic status and related demographic, behavioural, food-security and health characteristics.
Methods
Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India Wave 1 (2017–18). The analytical sample included 1,985 adults aged 45 years and above. Overweight and obesity were combined as body mass index ≥25 kg/m². Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression were used to examine associations, with unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios estimated.