Income and health: what is the nature of the relationship?

The aim of this article is to examine the relationship between income and morbidity, both before and after controlling for other socio-economic variables. We use data from the Health and Lifestyle Survey (first wave), a national sample survey of adults, aged 18 upwards, in England, Wales and Scotland, conducted in 1984–1985. In total, 9003 interviews were achieved. We examine the shape of the relationship between household equivalised income and height, waist–hip ratio, respiratory function (FEV1), malaise, limiting longterm illness.