title: Associations between adolescent and adult socioeconomic status and risk of obesity and overweight in Danish adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that socioeconomic status (SES) may influence the risk of obesity; however it is important to consider individual changes in SES over the life-course in addition to SES at specific time-points to better understand the complex associations with obesity. We explored the relationship between lifetime-specific and life-course SES and risk of obesity and overweight in Danish adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were used from the Danish Youth and Sports Study (DYSS) – a 20–22 year follow-up study of Danish teenagers born between 1964 and 1969. Baseline data gathered in 1983 and 1985 included self-reported BMI, SES and physical activity. The follow-up survey (2005) repeated these assessments in addition to an assessment of diet. Complete data on adolescent and adult SES and BMI were available for 623 participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following adjustments, adolescent SES had no significant association with overweight/obesity in this sample, however females of low or medium adult SES were significantly more likely to be overweight/obese compared to those of high SES (low SES: OR: 2.7; 95% CI: (1.3–5.8); p = 0.008; medium SES: OR: 4.0, 95% CI (1.6–10.2); p = 0.003). Females who decreased in SES during adulthood were significantly more likely to be overweight/obese compared to those who remained of high SES (OR: 3.1; 95% CI (1.1–9.2); p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effects of early life-factors may be conditional upon the environment in adulthood, particularly for the women. Further research should consider the timing of SES exposure and the mechanisms which may be responsible for the socioeconomic gradients in prevalence of obesity and overweight.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, and National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sinead M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Boylan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, and National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, and National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hare-Bruun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, and National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, and National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Berit L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Heitmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors