Inequality Analyses of Obesity in Turkey

Abstract

Abstract-This study aims to explore socioeconomic and regional variations of obesity among Turkish women at reproductive age (15-49). Using the data from Turkish Demographic and Health Survey, it identifies the socioeconomic determinants of obesity in different regions with different levels of development. Afterwards, it measures income-related obesity inequalities by employing concentration indices. Finally, it decomposes the measured inequalities and obesity gap between eastern and western Turkey into percentage contributions of socioeconomic covariates. Accordingly, age, ethnicity, education, income, marital status and employment are significantly associated with obesity in Turkey. Inequality analysis suggests that obesity is more concentrated among wealthier women in eastern Turkey whereas it is more concentrated among poorer women in western Turkey. Decompositions of the inequalities reveal that the inequalities are predominantly associated with wealth and ethnicity. The findings imply that eastern Turkey reflects the characteristics with of developing countries while western Turkey is closer to developing countries. Therefore, the study suggests that designing specific policies for regions with different levels of development will be useful in reducing the inequalities between eastern and western Turkey. In this respect, it is believed that policies dealing with the nutritional issues of eastern women and policies encouraging healthy behaviour of western women may be useful in reducing the inequalities between eastern and western Turkey.

Prevalence of childhood obesity and related parental factors across socioeconomic strata in Ankara, Turkey

“…Similarly, in a review of childhood obesity across Middle Eastern countries, Mirmiran et al (22) concluded that the relationship between SES and obesity was complex and varied across different cultures; they found obesity to be more prevalent in urban areas and higher SES in some countries such as Egypt, while it is more prevalent in medium SES in countries such as Pakistan, suggesting perhaps different stages of the nutrition transition across countries. Of note, one study among Turkish women of reproductive age (15-49 years) from different regions of Turkey found that obesity was concentrated among wealthier women in Eastern Turkey whereas in Western Turkey, it was more concentrated among poorer women (23). This suggests that contextual variations within a country are important to consider and warrants further research.…”