The Psychology of Gender 4th Edition

370 Chapter 10

Obesity has also increased dramatically

among children, although rates appear to

have leveled off in recent years. The rates of

obesity for children of ages 12 to 19 are shown

in Figure 10.6. Obesity among children is de-

fined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile

for one’s age and sex. The percentage of obese

children in the 2007–2008 survey was 19%

for boys and 17% for girls (Ogden & Carroll,

2010). The size and direction of the sex differ-

ence depend on race. Among Hispanics, more

males are obese compared to females (27% vs.

17%); among Whites, slightly more males are

obese compared to females (17% vs. 15%);

but among Blacks, more females are obese

compared to males (29% vs. 20%). The risk of

obesity appears to increase during the tran-

sition from adolescence to early adulthood

when youth begin to establish independent

living situations, but the increase is espe-

cially high in some subgroups—specifically,

females, immigrants, Blacks, and Hispanics

(Harris, Perreira, & Lee, 2009).

Obesity is especially problematic in

children because dietary and exercise habits

are becoming heavier) and in part to an in-

crease in weight for all age and sex groups

(i.e., the entire distribution of weight has

shifted). Men are more likely than women

to be overweight, but women are more likely

than men to be obese. Among Whites, the

rate of obesity is the same for women and

men (33% women; 32% men), whereas the

rate of obesity is much higher among females

than males among Blacks (50% vs. 37%) and

Hispanics (45% vs. 36%).

In the vast majority of the countries in the

world, women are more likely than men to be

obese (Case & Menendez, 2009). For example,

in South Africa, women are five times as likely

as men to be obese. In Morocco, women are

nearly three times as likely as men to be obese

(Batnitzky, 2008). Traditional gender roles

partly explain these findings. In cultures where

women and men have traditional roles, women

gain weight due to childbearing; they also lack

time for leisure exercise due to the burden of

household chores. In addition, women tra-

ditionally serve men their meals first, which

means that men eat the healthiest food.

FIGURE 10.6 The rate of obese children and adolescents has dramatically

risen over the past 30 years.

Source: Adapted from Ogden and Carroll (2010).

Obesity Prevalence

25

5

10

15

20

0

1976–1980 1988–1994 1999–2000 2001–2002 2003–2004 2005–2006 2007–2008

Females

Males

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