Economic Disadvantage During Childhood, Obesity, and Diabetes Across Three Birth Cohorts of Older Mexicans

Jesús Daniel Zazueta-Borboa, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Rebeca Wong, Neil Mehta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: Diabetes prevalence has increased markedly in Mexico. We examined the individual and joint contributions of economic disadvantage during childhood (EDDC) and elevated body weight on diabetes prevalence in 3 cohorts of Mexican adults. Methods: Data on those 60–69 years old from the 1930–1939, 1940–1949, and 1950–1959 birth cohorts in Waves 1 (2001), 3 (2012), and 5 (2018) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study were used. EDDC was defined as the absence of a toilet in the household before age 10. Body mass status was defined using self-reported perceived body image at age 50. Diabetes was based on respondent reports. Supplementary analyses using HbA1c as a criterion for diabetes were conducted. A regression-decomposition approach was implemented. Logistic regression models included adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics and access to medical care. Results: Diabetes prevalence was 23% overall and 11%, 25%, and 26% in the 1930–1939, 1940–1949, and 1950–1959 cohorts, respectively. EDDC declined across successive cohorts, whereas the prevalence of overweight/obesity at age 50 increased. EDDC and overweight/obesity were associated with higher odds of reporting diabetes. A scenario that eliminates disadvantaged EDDC reduced diabetes prevalence by 11% in a pooled sample, while eliminating overweight/obesity reduced it by 30%. Overweight/obesity explained 42% of the rise in diabetes prevalence between the 1930–1939 and 1950–1959 cohorts. Improvement in EDDC explained 18% of the rise in diabetes prevalence between 1930–1939 and 1950–1959 cohorts. Discussion: High body weight across Mexican birth cohorts seemed to offset the potential benefits from improvements in childhood conditions on adult diabetes risk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbergbae178
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Volume79
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2024

Keywords

  • Cohorts
  • Early childhood conditions
  • MHAS
  • Mexico

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Economic Disadvantage During Childhood, Obesity, and Diabetes Across Three Birth Cohorts of Older Mexicans'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this