title: The Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Childhood Maternal Education Level, Job Status Findings from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination, 2007-2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood socioeconomic status (SES) is known to affect cardio-metabolic disease risk. However, the relationship between childhood SES and metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains uncertain. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between childhood SES, as measured by maternal education and occupational status and adult-onset MetS in the Korean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the association between childhood SES, as measured by maternal education level and occupational status during an individual's childhood, and MetS in Korean adults aged 20 to 79 years who participated in the 2007-2009 Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey. The components of MetS, including waist circumference, fasting glucose, lipid profiles, and blood pressure, were measured. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for MetS were calculated using multiple logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in the association between maternal education level, occupational status, and MetS were found between males and females. In females, the adjusted MetS OR for the highest maternal education quartile relative to the lowest quartile was 0.46 (0.21-0.99). Similarly, in females, the adjusted OR for individuals whose mothers worked when they were children relative to those whose mothers did not work was 1.23 (1.04-1.44). In males, no significant associations between maternal education, maternal occupational status, and MetS were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found independent, positive associations between maternal education and occupational status and MetS in Korean females. These findings suggest that public health education targeting MetS prevention should be considered, especially among children with less opportunity for maternal support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Yoon
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Duk-Chul
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee-Yon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Childhood Socioeconomic Status; Metabolic Syndrome