Socioeconomic determinants of obesity: investigating the link between poverty and excess weight

Abstract

Objective:  To determine the frequency of obesity among low-income adults aged 20–45 years and to identify the socioeconomic, dietary and lifestyle factors associated with it. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of THQ Hospital Ferozewala, Punjab, from February 2026 to June 2026. Consecutive sampling was used to enroll 150 adults with a monthly household income below PKR 37,000. Information was collected using a structured questionnaire, and height and weight were measured directly. Obesity was defined as BMI ?30 kg/m² according to WHO criteria. Associations were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: The mean age was 33.9 ± 7.4 years, and 58.7% of participants were women. Obesity affected 30.0%, while 34.7% were overweight. Obesity was more frequent in the lowest income group (42.3%) than in the highest (16.2%), and among women, older participants and housewives. Dietary habits and sedentary behaviours were associated with obesity. Female sex, age 40–45 years, income below PKR 20,000, fast food consumption, fried food consumption and physical inactivity remained significant predictors after adjustment. Conclusion: Nearly two-thirds of low-income adults had excess weight, with obesity most frequent among those earning the least. These findings supported nutrition counseling and physical activity advice as part of routine outpatient care.