Socioeconomic Position in Childhood and Adulthood and Weight Gain over 34 Years: The Alameda County Study

Abstract

PURPOSE-Socioeconomic position (SEP) has been shown to be related to obesity and weight gain, especially among women. It is unclear how different measures of socioeconomic position may impact weight gain over long periods of time, and whether the effect of different measures vary by gender and age group. We examined the effect of childhood socioeconomic position, education, occupation, and log household income on a measure of weight gain using individual growth mixed regression models and Alameda County Study data collected over thirty four years .METHODS-Analyses were performed in four groups stratified by gender and age at baseline: women, 17-30 years (n = 945) and 31-40 years (n = 712); men, 17-30 years (n = 766) and 31-40 years (n = 608).RESULTS-Low childhood SEP was associated with increased weight gain among women 17-30 (0.13 kg/year, p < 0.001). Low educational status was associated with increased weight gain among women 17-30 (0.14 kg/year, p = 0.030), 31-40 (0.14 kg/year, p = 0.014), and men 17-30 (0.20 kg/year, p = 0.001).CONCLUSION-Log household income was inversely associated with weight gain among men 31-40 (−0.10 kg/yr, p = 0.16). Long-term weight gain in adulthood is associated with childhood SEP and education in women and education and income in men.

Projected socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of obesity among Australian adults

“…Similar socioeconomic inequalities in weight gain have been observed in earlier studies from the USA, 19,20 Finland 21 and Australia. 22 However, never before have these rates been combined with rates of mortality and weight change to predict future inequalities in obesity prevalence.…”

Childhood obesity and the income gradient: evidence from Australia

“…In particular, the prevalence of obesity is higher among low-income households in developed countries (Baltrus et al, 2007;Bhargava et al, 2008;Baum II and Ruhm, 2009;Stamatakis et al, 2010;Murray et al, 2011;El-Sayed et al, 2012;Chia, 2013;Walsh and Cullinan, 2015) but the trend is reversed in developing countries (Nguyen et al, 2007;Mushtaq et al, 2011;Zere et al, 2012). To the best of our knowledge, no study to date has examined the effects of income on childhood obesity using a dynamic specification.…”

Obesity and Quality of Life in Communities of Diverse Ethnicity and Low Socioeconomics

“…Specifically, (1) long-term weight gain in adulthood was associated with childhood socioeconomic position and education in women and education and income in men; (2) low childhood socioeconomic position was associated with increased weight among women 17-30 years old; (3) and low educational status was associated with increased weight gain among women 13-30 years and men 17-30 years (Baltrus et al, 2007). Socioeconomic status/race variable explains approximately 24% of geographic variability in childhood obesity and childhood obesity is significantly associated with lower household income, lower home ownership, less educated women, single parent household, and nonwhite residents (Grow et al, 2010).…”

“…Socioeconomic position has been shown to be related to obesity and weight gain (Baltrus et al, 2007). Specifically, (1) long-term weight gain in adulthood was associated with childhood socioeconomic position and education in women and education and income in men; (2) low childhood socioeconomic position was associated with increased weight among women 17-30 years old; (3) and low educational status was associated with increased weight gain among women 13-30 years and men 17-30 years (Baltrus et al, 2007).…”