Research Article

Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors for Spousal Resemblance in Obesity Status and Habitual Physical Activity in the United States

Table 1

Characteristics of husbands and wives in the US (MEPS 2006–2008).

Husbands ( = 10843)Wives ( = 10937)
Mean of %95% CIMean of %95% CI

Age (years)46.0 (45.6, 46.4)43.5 (43.1, 44.0)
BMI (kg/m2)27.9 (27.8, 28.1)26.4 (26.2, 26.5)
BMI category (%)
 <2525.6(24.4, 26.8)48.0(46.6, 49.5)
 25–2946.9(45.7, 48.1)29.1(28.0, 30.2)
 ≥3027.5(26.3, 28.7)22.9(21.7, 24.1)
Habitual physical activity (%)161.7(60.2, 63.1)58.2(56.9, 59.6)
Current smokers (%)19.7(18.5, 20.9)14.8(13.7, 15.9)
Education attainment (%)
 <12 years 13.6(12.6, 14.6)11.8(10.8, 12.7)
 12 years 29.7(28.2, 31.1)28.8(27.5, 30.0)
 13–15 years 21.3(20.1, 22.6)24.2(22.9, 25.5)
 ≥16 years 35.4(33.8, 37.0)35.2(33.6, 36.9)
Race/ethnicity (%)
 NH white71.5(69.7, 73.2)71.3(69.6, 73.0)
 NH black7.6(6.8, 8.3)7.2(6.5, 8.0)
 Hispanic14.2(12.7, 15.7)14.1(12.7, 15.6)
 Other6.8(5.9, 7.7)7.3(6.3, 8.2)
Individual annual income category (%)
 <US$10,000 8.1(7.5, 8.8)26.4(25.3, 27.6)
 US$10,000–24,999 20.6(19.6, 21.7)23.5(22.5, 24.5)
 US$25,000–47,999 32.3(31.1, 33.4)26.6(25.6, 27.7)
 ≥US$48,000 38.9(37.5, 40.4)23.4(22.1, 24.7)
Employment status (%)
 Never work0.8(0.6, 1.0)8.9(7.9, 9.8)
 Retired6.7(6.1, 7.4)4.3(3.7, 4.9)
 Unemployed4.8(4.4, 5.3)16.3(15.3, 17.3)
 Employed87.6(86.8, 88.4)70.5(69.2, 71.7)
Interview respondent (%)27.6(26.4, 28.8)72.7(71.5, 73.8)

Moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity ≥3 times/week.