Debabrata Talukdar|Satheesh Seenivasan|Adrian J. Cameron|Gary Sacks
The association between national income and adult obesity prevalence: Empirical insights into temporal patterns and moderators of the association using 40 years of data across 147 countries
University at Buffalo, State University of New York|Monash University|Deakin University|Deakin University
background country level population obesity prevalence often associated economic affluence reflecting potential adverse outcome concomitant economic growth estimated pattern strength empirically observed relationship national income adult obesity prevalence moderating role countries macroenvironments relationship methods assembled data national obesity prevalence income range variables characterize macroenvironments related 147 countries multiple international organizations databases used bayesian hierarchical model estimate relationship elasticities national income using gross domestic product per capita gdppc adult obesity prevalence moderating effects five different dimensions globalization orientation demographic characteristics economic environment labor market characteristics strength health policies countries macroenvironments income elasticities using latest 20192024 available national income growth projections international monetary fund forecast future global trends obesity prevalence findings 40years 19752014 adult obesity prevalence increased declining rate gdppc across 147 countries mean income elasticity estimates 123 95 credible interval 104142 males 101 082118 females elasticities positively associated extent political globalization negatively associated urbanization share agriculture national gdp income based projections indicate obesity prevalence would continue grow average annual rate 247 across studied countries 20192024 conclusions population obesity prevalence exhibits positive relationship national income evidence relationship weakening actually turns negative higher income levels obesity kuznets curve based current trends global obesity prevalence continue increase 20192024 rate growth higher low middleincome countries people currently live low middleincome countries rising incomes findings underscore urgent societal imperatives effective policy initiatives especially target concomitant nutrition transition process economic affluence break least weaken positive relationship population obesity prevalence national income