Money and Health: A Tale of Two Measures in China

In China, the relationship between wealth and health is not as simple as it may seem. Recent research using data from 2016 and 2020 reveals that self-perceived health and body mass index (BMI) can diverge significantly, influenced by factors such as location and income.

Personal vs. Material Wealth

• Expensive possessions like cars or large homes do not necessarily correlate with a healthy BMI; in some cases, they may indicate the opposite.
• Spending on travel or having more cash in the bank is linked to people feeling healthier, highlighting the multifaceted ways money impacts health.

Regional Income and BMI

• Provinces with higher average incomes tend to have a lower percentage of people with a normal BMI, defying conventional expectations.
• As incomes rise, some health disparities narrow, while others widen. For instance, increased spending on cars does not always translate to healthier lifestyle choices.

North vs. South: A Health Paradox

• Southern provinces generally exhibit healthier BMIs, yet residents rate their health worse than those in the north.
• This discrepancy underscores the differing ways health can be measured—what the scale shows and how one feels are not always aligned.

Policy Implications

The findings underscore that the relationship between money and health in China is complex. It involves not just the amount of money one has but also where they live and how they spend it. To enhance public health, policies must account for these nuances and be tailored to local contexts.