Gender differences in the pathways from childhood disadvantage to metabolic syndrome in adulthood: An examination of health lifestyles

Abstract

We investigate whether socioeconomic status (SES) in childhood shapes adult health lifestyles in domains of physical activity (leisure, work, chores) and diet (servings of healthy [i.e., nutrient-dense] vs. unhealthy [energy-dense] foods). Physical activity and food choices vary by gender and are key factors in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Thus, we examined gender differences in the intervening role of these behaviors in linking early-life SES and MetS in adulthood. We used survey data (n = 1054) from two waves of the Midlife in the U.S. Study (MIDUS 1 and 2) and biomarker data collected at MIDUS 2. Results show that individuals who were disadvantaged in early life are more likely to participate in physical activity related to work or chores, but less likely to participate in leisure-time physical activity, the domain most consistently linked with health benefits. Women from low SES families were exceedingly less likely to complete recommended amounts of physical activity through leisure. Men from low SES consumed more servings of unhealthy foods and fewer servings of healthy foods. The observed associations between childhood SES and health lifestyles in adulthood persist even after controlling for adult SES. For men, lack of leisure-time physical activity and unhealthy food consumption largely explained the association between early-life disadvantage and MetS. For women, leisure-time physical activity partially accounted for the association, with the direct effect of childhood SES remaining significant. Evidence that material deprivation in early life compromises metabolic health in adulthood calls for policy attention to improve economic conditions for disadvantaged families with young children where behavioral pathways (including gender differences therein) may be shaped. The findings also underscore the need to develop gender-specific interventions in adulthood.

Physical Fitness Plays a Crucial Mediator Role in Relationships Among Personal, Social, and Lifestyle Factors With Adolescents' Cognitive Performance in a Structural Equation Model. The Cogni-Action Project

“…First, only in girls, a significant and negative association between physical activity level and age was observed; second, the negative relationship between SVI with both fitness and cognitive performance was stronger in girls than in boys, and third, SVI was associated positively with BMIz, but particularly in girls. Therefore, these outcomes highlight an early stage sex gap (41,69) and demonstrate the relevance and priority for implementing programs to promote healthy lifestyles (increase physical activity, fitness, and prevent obesity), emphasising opportunities to girls (75,76).…”

Health Lifestyles in Late Middle Age

“…Although health lifestyle theory suggests that lifestyles are a key determinant of health, social class may be the underlying explanation for any association between midlife health lifestyles and health outcomes. The fact that class circumstances have a powerful association with health lifestyles is seen in the enduring and positive correlation between multiple operationalizations of social class, health, and health behaviors (Clouston, Richards, Caadar, & Hofer, 2015;Cockerham, 2005Cockerham, , 2013aCockerham, , 2013bJones et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2018;McGovern & Nazroo, 2015;Missinne, Daenekindt, & Bracke, 2015). Social class is typically measured with indicators of SES like family income, educational attainment, and occupational status.…”

“…Currently, we do not have a definitive answer for this question because relatively little research on health lifestyles has examined late middle age (for two notable exceptions, see Burgard, Lin, Segal, Elliott, & Seelye, 2018;Shaw, McGeever, Vasquez, Agahi, & Fors, 2014). Our current knowledge is largely concentrated in the earlier half of the life course, namely, childhood and adolescence (Burdette, Needham, Harper, & Hill, 2017;Daw, Margolis, & Wright, 2017;Lawrence, Mollborn, & Hummer, 2017;Lee, Tsenkova, Boylan, & Ryff, 2018; Mollborn, James-Hawkins, Lawrence, & Fomby, 2014;…”

Sex-Specific Associations Between Area-Level Poverty and Cardiometabolic Dysfunction Among US Adolescents

“…First, the associations observed in this study are likely to be explained, in part, by societal processes, such as disinvestments in areas of concentrated disadvantage, 41 and related sex-specific health behaviors, such as physical activity and diet. 42 We lacked data on the full complement of health behaviors relevant to cardiometabolic dysfunction, and the available variables (eg, physical activity) were subject to errors inherent in large epidemiologic surveys. However, these errors likely occurred at random; thus, our estimates were likely to be conservative.…”