Links Between Childhood and Adult Social Circumstances and Obesity and Hypertension in the Mexican Population

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines links between early life circumstances and adult socioeconomic status and obesity and hypertension in the adult Mexican population. Method: We use data from the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS) collected in 2002 for people aged 20 or older ( N = 14,280). Results: We found that men with low education and women with more education have significantly lower obesity. Women with higher education also have significantly less hypertension. Obesity triples the likelihood of hypertension among both men and women. Better childhood experiences are associated with less hypertension among women, but more hypertension among men in rural areas. Discussion: Recent changes in income, nutrition, and infection in Mexico may be responsible for the observed high prevalence of overweight and obesity and the extremely high odds of hypertension among obese young adults.