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The Relationship Between Income and Weight Control Strategies Among Canadian Adults

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Abstract

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine use of weight control strategies in Canadian adults and the role of income as a barrier to using these strategies.

Methods: Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey cycle 4.1 on health behaviour change was used for this study. Analysis was restricted to adults (18+ years) residing in the 10 provinces of Canada. Respondents were categorized as having used weight control strategies in their lifestyle if they responded that they increased exercise, improved/modified their eating habits, or lost weight in the previous 12 months, as the primary means of health improvement. An adjusted household income ratio divided into deciles was used as a measure of income. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between income and weight control strategies adjusting for known confounders.

Results: Of the 103,990 respondents analyzed, 60% were overweight or obese and 45% reported using weight control strategies in the previous 12 months. Age, sex, ethnicity, having a regular doctor, education, and income were all significantly associated with using weight control strategies in the multivariable model. Results that included all two- and three-way interactions between sex, weight category, and income found that lower income was significantly associated with using fewer weight control strategies - more so for obese men and normal weight women.

Conclusion: Efforts must be made to create equal access to services and food products that promote weight reduction or control strategies given the rising prevalence of adult obesity in Canada.

Résumé

Objectif: Examiner l’utilisation des stratégies de contrôle du poids chez les adultes canadiens et le rôle du revenu comme obstacle à l’utilisation de ces stratégies.

Méthode: Pour cette étude nous avons utilisé les données sur le changement des habitudes de santé du cycle 4.1 de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes. Notre analyse s’est limitée aux adultes (18 ans et plus) résidant dans les 10 provinces du Canada. Les répondants ont été catégorisés comme ayant utilisé des stratégies de contrôle du poids dans leur mode de vie s’ils disaient avoir augmenté leur niveau d’activité physique, amélioré ou modifié leurs habitudes alimentaires ou perdu du poids au cours des 12 mois précédents comme principal moyen d’améliorer leur santé. Nous avons choisi comme indicateur du revenu un ratio de revenu du ménage ajusté divisé en déciles. Par régression logistique multivariée, nous avons examiné la relation entre le revenu et les stratégies de contrôle du poids en tenant compte des facteurs confusionnels connus.

Résultats: Sur les 103 990 répondants analysés, 60 % étaient en surpoids ou obèses et 45 % ont déclaré avoir utilisé des stratégies de contrôle du poids au cours des 12 mois précédents. L’âge, le sexe, l’ethnicité, le fait d’avoir un médecin régulier, la scolarité et le revenu présentaient tous une corrélation significative avec l’utilisation de stratégies de contrôle du poids dans le modèle multivarié. Selon les résultats incluant toutes les interactions possibles entre le sexe, la catégorie de poids et le revenu, un revenu inférieur présentait une corrélation significative avec l’utilisation d’un moins grand nombre de stratégies de contrôle du poids - davantage encore chez les hommes obèses et les femmes de poids normal.

Conclusion: Étant donné la prévalence croissante de l’obésité à l’âge adulte au Canada, il faut s’efforcer d’assurer un accès égal aux services et aux produits alimentaires qui favorisent les stratégies de réduction ou de contrôle du poids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada

    Andrew W. Tu MSc & Louise C. Mâsse PhD

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Louise C. Mâsse PhD

Authors
  1. Andrew W. Tu MSc
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  2. Louise C. Mâsse PhD
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Correspondence to Andrew W. Tu MSc.

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Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Tu, A.W., Mâsse, L.C. The Relationship Between Income and Weight Control Strategies Among Canadian Adults. Can J Public Health 103, e438–e442 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405634

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405634

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