Table 1 Characteristics of participants in the Health and Retirement Study, United States, 1992
|  | Total (n = 6,453) | Women (n = 3,539) | Men (n = 2,914) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Median (IQR) | % | Median (IQR) | % | Median (IQR) | % |
Normal weighta | Â | 35.7 | Â | 41.1 | Â | 29.1 |
Overweightb | Â | 40.7 | Â | 33.4 | Â | 49.5 |
Obesityc | Â | 23.7 | Â | 25.5 | Â | 21.4 |
Demographics | ||||||
 Birth date (months since Jan. 1900) | 446 (411–478) |  | 447 (412–480) |  | 443 (410–475) |  |
 Non-Hispanic white |  | 80.1 |  | 78.4 |  | 82.1 |
 Non-Hispanic black |  | 15.6 |  | 17.5 |  | 13.4 |
 Hispanic |  | 4.3 |  | 4.2 |  | 4.5 |
Early life factors | ||||||
 Mother’s years of schooling | 10 (8–12) |  | 9 (8–12) |  | 10 (8–12) |  |
 Pretty well off financially |  | 5.3 |  | 5.3 |  | 5.1 |
 About average financially |  | 63.9 |  | 65.1 |  | 62.6 |
 Poor |  | 30.8 |  | 29.6 |  | 32.3 |
 Father lost job |  | 18.3 |  | 17.6 |  | 19.0 |
 Financial help from relatives |  | 11.6 |  | 11.0 |  | 12.3 |
 Moved for financial reasons |  | 16.8 |  | 15.6 |  | 18.1 |
 Born in New England |  | 4.3 |  | 3.8 |  | 4.9 |
 Born in Middle Atlantic Division |  | 14.9 |  | 15.2 |  | 14.5 |
 Born in East North Central Division |  | 18.6 |  | 18.0 |  | 19.3 |
 Born in West North Central Division |  | 11.6 |  | 11.2 |  | 12.0 |
 Born in South Atlantic Division |  | 19.2 |  | 19.6 |  | 18.6 |
 Born in East South Central Division |  | 11.1 |  | 11.4 |  | 10.8 |
 Born in West South Central Division |  | 11.4 |  | 12.0 |  | 10.7 |
 Born in Mountain Division |  | 4.0 |  | 3.9 |  | 4.1 |
 Born in Pacific Division |  | 5.1 |  | 5.1 |  | 5.0 |
Late-middle life socio-demographic factors | ||||||
 Years of schooling | 12 (12–14) |  | 12 (12–14) |  | 12 (12–15) |  |
 Income (1992 dollars) | 40,000 (21,800–63,592) |  | 35,200 (19,000–59,284) |  | 46,000 (26,804–69,500) |  |
 Net wealth (1992 dollars) | 105,000 (38,700–241,000) |  | 99,600 (34,000–235,000) |  | 111,500 (43,200–249,000) |  |
 White-collar lifetime occupation |  | 38.1 |  | 34.6 |  | 42.3 |
 Pink-collar lifetime occupation |  | 27.2 |  | 41.3 |  | 10.1 |
 Blue-collar lifetime occupation |  | 27.3 |  | 12.0 |  | 45.9 |
 Never worked |  | 7.4 |  | 12.1 |  | 1.7 |
 Married |  | 76.2 |  | 70.8 |  | 82.7 |
 Partner |  | 2.2 |  | 1.5 |  | 3.0 |
 Separated |  | 2.3 |  | 2.6 |  | 2.0 |
 Widowed |  | 5.6 |  | 8.9 |  | 1.4 |
 Never married |  | 3.4 |  | 3.5 |  | 3.2 |
 Divorced |  | 10.4 |  | 12.7 |  | 7.6 |
 Live in Northeast Region |  | 16.0 |  | 16.7 |  | 15.1 |
 Live in Midwest Region |  | 27.9 |  | 27.9 |  | 27.8 |
 Live in South Region |  | 40.7 |  | 40.1 |  | 41.4 |
 Live in West Region |  | 15.5 |  | 15.3 |  | 15.8 |
Late-middle life behavior-health factors | ||||||
 Current smoker |  | 26.2 |  | 24.9 |  | 27.7 |
 Former smoker |  | 36.6 |  | 29.3 |  | 45.5 |
 Never smoker |  | 37.2 |  | 45.8 |  | 26.8 |
 Vigorous physical activity (> = 3 times per week) |  | 22.4 |  | 22.7 |  | 22.2 |