The Relationship Between Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: Evidence from NHANES 2021-2023

Xiaoyi Zhang

doi:10.54254/2755-2721/2026.TJ29151

Applied and Computational EngineeringOpen access

The Relationship Between Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: Evidence from NHANES 2021-2023

Research Article

Open Access

The Relationship Between Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: Evidence from NHANES 2021-2023

Xiaoyi Zhang ^1*

¹ College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 311300

^*Corresponding author: 202217110207@stu.zafu.edu.cn

Published on 5 November 2025

ACE Vol.203

ISSN (Print): 2755-273X

ISSN (Online): 2755-2721

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-515-8

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-516-5

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Abstract

The relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity is well-established, its multidimensional nature and racial heterogeneity remain underexplored and inadequately quantified. This study investigates the race-specific gradients of obesity across three SES dimensions-income, education, and occupation-using data from 62,350 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2021-2023. Survey-weighted logistic regression with race-SES interaction terms was employed to model obesity risk. Results indicate that education is the most robust SES predictor, with higher attainment significantly reducing the odds of obesity. Although income showed no significant overall association, analysis of predicted marginal means revealed profound racial disparities: Non-Hispanic Black adults exhibited the highest obesity prevalence at low-income levels, with these disparities persisting even at high income, indicating diminishing returns. Employment status exerted race-specific effects, with unemployment drastically elevating obesity probability among Non-Hispanic Black adults. These findings underscore the need for multidimensional, race-conscious public health interventions to effectively address obesity disparities.

Keywords:

socioeconomic status, obesity, racial/ethnic disparities, NHANES, logistic regression

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References

[1]. McLaren, L. (2007). Socioeconomic status and obesity. Epidemiologic reviews, 29(1), 29-48.

[2]. Frederick, C. B., Snellman, K., & Putnam, R. D. (2014). Increasing socioeconomic disparities in adolescent obesity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(4), 1338-1342.

[3]. Gong, S., Wang, L., Zhou, Z., Wang, K., & Alamian, A. (2022). Income disparities in obesity Trends among US adults: an analysis of the 2011–2014 California health interview survey. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(12), 7188.

[4]. Bann, D., Cooper, R., Wills, A. K., Adams, J., & Kuh, D. (2014). Socioeconomic position across life and body composition in early old age: findings from a British birth cohort study. J Epidemiol Community Health, 68(6), 516-523.

[5]. Oddo, V. M., Zhuang, C. C., Dugan, J. A., Andrea, S. B., Hajat, A., Peckham, T., & Jones‐Smith, J. C. (2023). Association between precarious employment and BMI in the United States. Obesity, 31(1), 234-242.

References

[1]. McLaren, L. (2007). Socioeconomic status and obesity. Epidemiologic reviews, 29(1), 29-48.

[2]. Frederick, C. B., Snellman, K., & Putnam, R. D. (2014). Increasing socioeconomic disparities in adolescent obesity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(4), 1338-1342.

Cite this article

Zhang,X. (2025). The Relationship Between Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: Evidence from NHANES 2021-2023. Applied and Computational Engineering,203,1-8.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of CONF-SPML 2026 Symposium: The 2nd Neural Computing and Applications Workshop 2025

ISBN: 978-1-80590-515-8(Print) / 978-1-80590-516-5(Online)

Editor: Marwan Omar, Guozheng Rao

Conference website: https://www.confspml.org/tianjin.html

Conference date: 21 December 2025

Series: Applied and Computational Engineering

Volume number: Vol.203

ISSN: 2755-2721(Print) / 2755-273X(Online)

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