title: Educational mobility and weight gain over 13 years in a longitudinal study of young women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited evidence exists about the role of education and own educational mobility on body weight trajectory. A better understanding of how education influences long term weight gain can help us to design more effective health policies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using random effects models, the association between i) highest education (n = 10 018) and ii) educational mobility over a 9 year period (n = 9 907) and weight gain was analysed using five waves of data (over 13 years) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health 1973-78 cohort (from 18-23 years to 31-36 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highest educational attainment was inversely associated with weight at baseline and weight gain over 13 years. Compared to high educated women, those with a low (12 years or less) or intermediate (trade/certificate/diploma) education, respectively, weighed an additional 2.6 kg (95% CI:1.9 to 3.1) and 2.5 kg (95% CI:1.9 to 3.3) at baseline and gained an additional 3.9 kg (95% CI:2.6 to 5.2) and 3.1 kg (95% CI:2.6 to 3.9) over 13 years. Compared to women who remained with a low education, women with the greatest educational mobility had similar baseline weight to the women who already had a high education at baseline (2.7 kg lighter (95% CI:-3.7 to -1.8) and 2.7 kg lighter (95% CI:-3.4 to -1.9), respectively) and similarly favourable weight gain (gaining 3.1 kg less (95% CI:-4.0 to -2.21) and 4.2 kg less (95% CI:-4.8 to -3.4) over the 13 years, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While educational attainment by mid-thirties was positively associated with better weight management, women's weight was already different in young adult age, before their highest education was achieved. These findings highlight a potential role of early life factors and personality traits which may influence both education and weight outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Longitudinal and Life Course Research, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, 4006 Brisbane, Australia. n.holowko@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holowko
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tooth
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koupil
authors.forename: Gita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D015430:Weight Gain; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult