Obesity and Gender

Abstract While obesity prevalence has increased worldwide, research shows that more women than men are obese. This gender difference suggests the need to examine obesity from a social science perspective. The specific objectives of this entry are: (1) to introduce social scientists to the definition of obesity and its measurement; (2) to determine gender patterns of obesity; and (3) to identify social science perspectives To accomplish the stated objectives, I conducted in‐depth literature reviews (search terms: gender, obesity, measurement, World Health Organization, International Obesity Task Force, children and obesity, adults and obesity) in PubMed and social science databases. Based on the international body mass index (BMI) criteria established by the World Health Organization, gendered patterns of obesity are evident among adults such that women are more likely to be obese. Among children and adolescents, there are few discernable or statistically significant differences in obesity prevalence. Public health perspectives often rely on individual health behaviors to explain gender differences which leave the macrolevel structures that contribute to gender differences in obesity understudied. In contrast, social science approaches examine gender socialization and social psychological theories to examine gender differences in obesity.