Obesity in Adolescence Predicts Lower Educational Attainment and Income in Adulthood: The Project EAT Longitudinal Study.

Abstract

ObjectivesProspective associations between obesity in adolescence and adult socioeconomic outcomes, and potential mediators, were examined in a contemporary cohort.MethodsLongitudinal data collected in 1998–1999 (Project EAT-I) and 2015–2016 (EAT-IV) were analyzed for 1796 participants who provided data at both time points Adolescents (mean age=14.8 years) self-reported demographic and psychosocial variables (EAT-I) and follow-up outcomes (EAT-IV). Body weight and height were directly measured. Bachelor’s degree or more education, income > US $50,000, and partnered status at follow up were examined by baseline obesity (>95th BMI percentile) using logistic regression. Self-esteem, depression and weight-related teasing were examined as mediators using multivariate probit regressions. All analyses were adjusted for race, baseline age and parent socioeconomic status.ResultsGirls with obesity were significantly less likely to have achieved a Bachelor’s degree (OR 0.32, 95% CI [0.18, 0.58]; p < .001), earn > $50,000 annually (OR 0.57, 95% CI [0.33, 0.99]; p < .04) or be partnered (OR 0.45, 95% CI [0.27, 0.75]; p < .002) in adulthood. No associations were observed among boys. Among girls, depression mediated 8.5% and 23.6% of the association between adolescent obesity and adult education and income, respectively.ConclusionsAdolescent girls with obesity have lower educational attainment and income and are less likely to be partnered in later adulthood. Depression may partly mediate the associations.