BACKGROUND: Obesity and body mass in adulthood relate both to current and to childhood socio-economic status, particularly in women, but the underlying life course processes are not known. This study aims at examining whether the life course socio-economic status-body mass association in women and men is explained by the cumulative risk or adolescent sensitive period models whether associations are similar at different life course stages; and whether health behaviours explain the associations. METHODS: A total of 476 women and 517 men participated in this 27-year prospective cohort study (participation rate 93%). Body mass index was assessed at the age of 16 and 43 years and self-reported at the age of 21 and 30 years. Information on socio-economic status by own or parental (age 16 years) occupation, smoking, snuff, alcohol, physical activity and diet was collected at each age. RESULTS: In women, cumulative socio-economic status and socio-economic status in adolescence were related to body mass index at the age of 16, 21, 30 and 43 years and to the 27-year change in body mass, independently of health behaviours and for adolescent socio-economic status also of later socio-economic attainment. Associations were generally stronger for body mass at older age. In men, associations were mostly non-significant, although health behaviours contributed strongly to body mass. CONCLUSIONS: In women, both the sensitive period (in adolescence) and cumulative risk models explain the socio-economic-body mass link. Efforts to reduce the social inequality in body mass in women should be directed at the early life course, but focusing on unhealthy behaviours might not be a sufficient approach.
BACKGROUND: Obesity and body mass in adulthood relate both to current and to childhood socio-economic status, particularly in women, but the underlying life course processes are not known. This study aims at examining whether the life course socio-economic status-body mass association in women and men is explained by the cumulative risk or adolescent sensitive period models whether associations are similar at different life course stages; and whether health behaviours explain the associations. METHODS: A total of 476 women and 517 men participated in this 27-year prospective cohort study (participation rate 93%). Body mass index was assessed at the age of 16 and 43 years and self-reported at the age of 21 and 30 years. Information on socio-economic status by own or parental (age 16 years) occupation, smoking, snuff, alcohol, physical activity and diet was collected at each age. RESULTS: In women, cumulative socio-economic status and socio-economic status in adolescence were related to body mass index at the age of 16, 21, 30 and 43 years and to the 27-year change in body mass, independently of health behaviours and for adolescent socio-economic status also of later socio-economic attainment. Associations were generally stronger for body mass at older age. In men, associations were mostly non-significant, although health behaviours contributed strongly to body mass. CONCLUSIONS: In women, both the sensitive period (in adolescence) and cumulative risk models explain the socio-economic-body mass link. Efforts to reduce the social inequality in body mass in women should be directed at the early life course, but focusing on unhealthy behaviours might not be a sufficient approach.
Authors: Stephen E Gilman; Yen-Tsung Huang; Marcia P Jimenez; Golareh Agha; Su H Chu; Charles B Eaton; Risë B Goldstein; Karl T Kelsey; Stephen L Buka; Eric B Loucks Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2019-02-01 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Per E Gustafsson; Miguel San Sebastian; Urban Janlert; Töres Theorell; Hugo Westerlund; Anne Hammarström Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2014-03-13 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Camilla Præstegaard; Susanne K Kjaer; Thor S S Nielsen; Signe M Jensen; Penelope M Webb; Christina M Nagle; Estrid Høgdall; Harvey A Risch; Mary Anne Rossing; Jennifer A Doherty; Kristine G Wicklund; Marc T Goodman; Francesmary Modugno; Kirsten Moysich; Roberta B Ness; Robert P Edwards; Ellen L Goode; Stacey J Winham; Brooke L Fridley; Daniel W Cramer; Kathryn L Terry; Joellen M Schildkraut; Andrew Berchuck; Elisa V Bandera; Lisa Paddock; Lambertus A Kiemeney; Leon F Massuger; Nicolas Wentzensen; Paul Pharoah; Honglin Song; Alice S Whittemore; Valerie McGuire; Weiva Sieh; Joseph Rothstein; Hoda Anton-Culver; Argyrios Ziogas; Usha Menon; Simon A Gayther; Susan J Ramus; Aleksandra Gentry-Maharaj; Anna H Wu; Celeste L Pearce; Malcolm C Pike; Alice W Lee; Jenny Chang-Claude; Allan Jensen Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Date: 2016-02-03 Impact factor: 2.984
Authors: Per E Gustafsson; Miguel San Sebastian; Urban Janlert; Töres Theorell; Hugo Westerlund; Anne Hammarström Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-11-21 Impact factor: 3.240