Obesity and Socioeconomic Status Among Peruvian Women: Evidence of Panel Data Analysis

Abstract

The rise in global obesity and overweight population rates has reached a pandemic level. This dramatic rise in rates is more pronounced in developing countries, as compared to more industrialized societies. In Peru, obesity rates are escalating, the information available shows that during the years 2008 and 2017 the rate of obesity among Peruvian women increased from 14.60 to 22.91 percent, despite the progress made in reducing poverty and income inequality during the reference period. In this paper, Panel-data analysis from 2008-2017, 24 regions, and a sample size of 240 data points is used. We find that there is a cointegration among obesity, poverty, and income inequality, which ensures a long-run relationship among the variables.