Abstract
This study examines the link between household income and specific health indicators, namely body mass index, total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. Data was taken from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over four periods between the years of 2001 and 2008. Both linear and logarithmic functional forms were applied to examine the effects of income on health. A series of income brackets, as well as the income-to-poverty ratio, were used as alternative measures of income.. The results indicate that factors other than household income, most noticeably gender, race and educational attainment, play a more important role in determining health outcomes.