ABSTRACT
The effect of social environment on the prevalence of obesity has been revealed in populations at various levels of economic development. The correlations between obesity and socioeconomic status are described in detail in industrialised countries, such as the U.S. (Garn et al., 1977; Lowenstein, 1976; Stunkard, 1978), United Kingdom and several other European and non-European countries (Goldbourt and Medalie, 1974; Khosla and Lowe, 1967; Kittel et al., 1978; Silverstone, Gordon and Stunkard, 1969).
