Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Reform-Era China: The Long Arm of Market Transformation

Qiang Fu, Duke University
Linda K. George, Duke University

Based on China Health and Nutrition Survey 2006, this research studies the influence of mothers' social conditions on childhood obesity and overweight in the reform-era China. After fitting the age- and sex-specific cut-off points provided by international obesity task force with a polynomial method, we use both logistic regression and quantile regression to study the prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight. Results from logistic regression show that redistributive occupations (cadres and clerical staffs) predict lower odds of childhood obesity, while tertiary education predicts higher odds of childhood obesity. Results from quantile regression demonstrate that working in a state sector (government agencies and state owned enterprises) predicts lower odds of childhood overweight, while tertiary education predicts higher odds of childhood overweight. While the results favor the market transformation theory over fundamental causes theory, our results call attention to the choice of appropriate methods for analyzing childhood overweight and obesity separately.