Association between adult and childhood socioeconomic status and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in African Americans: the Pitt County Study.

We evaluated the association between socioeconomic status (SES) during childhood and adulthood and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in African Americans. Higher adult educational status and adult skilled occupation were protective against the metabolic syndrome, but no associations were found between the metabolic syndrome and other SES variables. Differences by gender were observed. Improving access to education among African Americans could reduce risk for the metabolic syndrome, but more research is needed in minority populations.