IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i10p3649-d361889.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fetal Exposure to Chinese Famine Increases Obesity Risk in Adulthood

Author

Listed:
  • Chao Song

    (National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China)

  • Meng Wang

    (National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China)

  • Zheng Chen

    (National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China)

  • Yecheng Yao

    (National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China)

  • Ganyu Feng

    (National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China)

  • Yanning Ma

    (National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China)

  • Jing Fan

    (National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China)

  • Ailing Liu

    (National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China)

Abstract

Fetal exposure to famine may have long-term consequences in adulthood. The purpose of the present study was to explore the association between famine exposure in fetal life (Chinese famine in 1959–1961) and obesity risk in adulthood. A total of 8054 subjects (3422 male, 4632 female) were recruited from the cross-sectional 2010–2012 China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CNNHS). The subjects born in 1960 and 1961 were selected as the exposed group, while the subjects born in 1963 were selected as the unexposed group. Multiple linear or logistic regression was performed to examine the association between fetal exposure to famine and risk of obesity (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), obesity, central obesity) adjusting for gender, education level, economic status, physical exercise, sedentary time, smoking, drinking, the intake of livestock and poultry and the intake of cereal and beans. Compared with the unexposed group, WC increased by 0.52 cm after adjusting the covariates (p = 0.021) and females in the exposed group had a significantly higher prevalence of central obesity with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.15 (1.01,1.31) after adjusting the confounders ( p = 0.030). WC increased by 0.71 cm, 1.21 cm after adjusting the covariates compared with the unexposed group among the total subjects and the female subjects in urban areas ( p = 0.021, p = 0.001). The female subjects had a significantly higher prevalence of obesity and central obesity, with ORs of 1.34 (1.04,1.71) ( p = 0.022), 1.28 (1.07,1.53) ( p = 0.008) respectively. Our results suggest that fetal exposure to the Chinese famine increased obesity risk in adulthood, and the association was stronger in female and urban subjects.

Suggested Citation

  • Chao Song & Meng Wang & Zheng Chen & Yecheng Yao & Ganyu Feng & Yanning Ma & Jing Fan & Ailing Liu, 2020. "Fetal Exposure to Chinese Famine Increases Obesity Risk in Adulthood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3649-:d:361889
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3649/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3649/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xu, Hongwei & Li, Lydia & Zhang, Zhenmei & Liu, Jinyu, 2016. "Is natural experiment a cure? Re-examining the long-term health effects of China's 1959–1961 famine," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 110-122.
    2. Hruby, A. & Manson, J.E. & Qi, L. & Malik, V.S. & Rimm, E.B. & Sun, Q. & Willett, W.C. & Hu, F.B., 2016. "Determinants and consequences of obesity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(9), pages 1656-1662.
    3. Zhehui Luo & Ren Mu & Xiaobo Zhang, 2006. "Famine and Overweight in China," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 28(3), pages 296-304.
    4. Yan Zou & Ronghua Zhang & Shichang Xia & Lichun Huang & Jia Meng & Yueqiang Fang & Gangqiang Ding, 2017. "Dietary Patterns and Obesity among Chinese Adults: Results from a Household-Based Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, May.
    5. Yangyu Zhang & Xinyu Liu & Mohan Wang & Yan Song & Lili Zhang & Yueyue You & Yingying Su & Yingyu Liu & Changgui Kou, 2018. "Risk of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes after Early-Life Famine Exposure: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Northeastern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-10, May.
    6. Jielin Zhou & Liangjian Zhang & Peng Xuan & Yong Fan & Linsheng Yang & Chunqiu Hu & Qingli Bo & Guoxiu Wang & Jie Sheng & Sufang Wang, 2018. "The relationship between famine exposure during early life and body mass index in adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Han Zhang & Wing Chung Ho, 2022. "The Long-Term Effect of Famine Exposure on Cognitive Performance: Evidence from the 1959–1961 Chinese Famine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Chen, Xi, 2022. "Early Life Circumstances and the Health of Older Adults: A Research Note," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1158, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    3. Haiyong Liu, 2008. "The China health and nutrition survey: an important database for poverty and inequality research," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 6(4), pages 373-376, December.
    4. Cheng, Zhiming & Guo, Wei & Hayward, Mathew & Smyth, Russell & Wang, Haining, 2021. "Childhood adversity and the propensity for entrepreneurship: A quasi-experimental study of the Great Chinese Famine," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(1).
    5. Douglas Almond & Lena Edlund & Hongbin Li & Junsen Zhang, 2007. "Long-Term Effects Of The 1959-1961 China Famine: Mainland China and Hong Kong," NBER Working Papers 13384, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Song, Shige, 2013. "Identifying the intergenerational effects of the 1959–1961 Chinese Great Leap Forward Famine on infant mortality," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 474-487.
    7. Stefan Dercon & Catherine Porter, 2014. "Live Aid Revisited: Long-Term Impacts Of The 1984 Ethiopian Famine On Children," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 12(4), pages 927-948, August.
    8. Shen, Chi & Chen, Xi, 2024. "Early Life Exposure to the Great Chinese Famine (1959–1961) and the Health of Older Adults in China: A Meta-Analysis (2008–2023)," IZA Discussion Papers 16733, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Costa, Dora L., 2023. "Overweight grandsons and grandfathers’ starvation exposure," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    10. Prabhu Pingali & Anaka Aiyar & Mathew Abraham & Andaleeb Rahman, 2019. "Transforming Food Systems for a Rising India," Palgrave Studies in Agricultural Economics and Food Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-3-030-14409-8.
    11. Loren Brandt & Aloysius Siow & Carl Vogel, 2016. "Large Demographic Shocks And Small Changes In The Marriage Market," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 14(6), pages 1437-1468, December.
    12. Xue Feng Hu & Gordon G. Liu & Maoyong Fan, 2017. "Long‐Term Effects of Famine on Chronic Diseases: Evidence from China's Great Leap Forward Famine," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(7), pages 922-936, July.
    13. Katharina C. Wirnitzer & Mohamad Motevalli & Derrick R. Tanous & Gerold Wirnitzer & Karl-Heinz Wagner & Armando Cocca & Manuel Schätzer & Werner Kirschner & Clemens Drenowatz & Gerhard Ruedl, 2022. "Study Protocol of “Sustainably Healthy—From Science 2 Highschool & University”—Prevalence of Mixed, Vegetarian, and Vegan Diets Linked to Sports & Exercise among Austrian Tertiary Students and Lecture," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-24, November.
    14. Tan, Chih Ming & Tan, Zhibo & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2014. "Sins of the fathers: The intergenerational legacy of the 1959-1961 Great Chinese Famine on children's cognitive development:," IFPRI discussion papers 1351, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    15. Bhalotra, Sonia & Rawlings, Samantha B., 2011. "Intergenerational persistence in health in developing countries: The penalty of gender inequality?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(3-4), pages 286-299, April.
    16. Supa Pengpid & Karl Peltzer, 2021. "Overweight and Obesity among Adults in Iraq: Prevalence and Correlates from a National Survey in 2015," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-10, April.
    17. Bratti, Massimiliano & Frimpong, Prince Boakye & Russo, Simone, 2021. "Prenatal Exposure to Heat Waves and Child Health in Sub-saharan Africa," IZA Discussion Papers 14424, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    18. Elizabeth Gooch, 2018. "Resistance is Futile? Institutional and Geographic Factors in China’s Great Leap Famine," HiCN Working Papers 266, Households in Conflict Network.
    19. Case, Anne & Menendez, Alicia, 2009. "Sex differences in obesity rates in poor countries: Evidence from South Africa," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 271-282, December.
    20. Elijah N. Muange & Marther W. Ngigi, 2021. "Dietary quality and overnutrition among adults in Kenya: what role does ICT play?," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(4), pages 1013-1028, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    famine; obesity; fetal life;
    All these keywords.

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:10:p:3649-:d:361889. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.