Moore, S.Hall, J.Harper, S.Lynch, J.2011-09-022011-09-022010Journal of Obesity, 2010; Online(514674):1-112090-07082090-0716http://hdl.handle.net/2440/65843Objective. To examine the association between socioeconomic factors and weight status across 53 countries. Methods. Data are cross-sectional and from the long version of the World Health Survey (WHS). There were 172,625 WHS participants who provided self-reported height and weight measures and sociodemographic information. The International Classification of adult weight status was used to classify participants by body mass index (BMI): (1) underweight (<18.5), (2) normal weight (18.5–24.9), (3) overweight (25.0–29.9), and (4) obese (>30.0). Multinomial regression was used in the analyses. Results. Globally, 6.7% was underweight, 25.7% overweight, and 8.9% obese. Underweight status was least (5.8%) and obesity (9.3%) most prevalent in the richest quintile. There was variability between countries, with a tendency for lower-income quintiles to be at increased risk for underweight and reduced risk for obesity. Conclusion. International policies may require flexibility in addressing cross-national differences in the socio-economic covariates of BMI status.enCopyright © 2010 Spencer Moore et al.BMIadult weightobesitysocioeconomic factorscross-sectional studyJournal article002011059210.1155/2010/5146742-s2.0-7925151487128798Lynch, J. [0000-0003-2781-7902]