In my Nutrition and Chronic Disease class yesterday, we discussed the fact that, in Seattle, the biggest predictors of what a woman weighs are her education level (more education, less weight) and the property value of her home (more value, less weight). Property value is a bigger predictor than income level itself. These associations are not as true for men. This data comes from the Seattle Obesity Study, conducted by the University of Washington Center for Obesity Research.
Some companion research in Paris has found the same results regarding women, property values and body weight, even though the obesity rate in Paris is roughly half of Seattle’s, the property values are roughly twice as high as Seattle’s, and the eating patterns in France and the U.S. are quite different (despite the breaching of those hallowed culinary borders by U.S. fast food outlets). A fascinating demonstration of how health is influenced by more than just individual choices.