Economic Disadvantage During Childhood, Obesity, and Diabetes Across Three Birth Cohorts of Older Mexicans

ObjectivesDiabetes prevalence has increased markedly in Mexico. We examined the individual and joint contributions of economic disadvantage during childhood (EDDC) and elevated body weight on diabetes prevalence in 3 cohorts of Mexican adults.MethodsData on those 60–69 years old from the 1930–1939, 1940–1949, and 1950–1959 birth cohorts in Waves 1 (2001), 3 (2012), and 5 (2018) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study were used. EDDC was defined as the absence of a toilet in the household before age 10. Body mass status was defined using self-reported perceived body image at age 50. Diabetes was based on respondent reports. Supplementary analyses using HbA1c as a criterion for diabetes were conducted. A regression-decomposition approach was implemented. Logistic regression models included adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics and access to medical care.ResultsDiabetes prevalence was 23% overall and 11%, 25%, and 26% in the 1930–1939, 1940–1949, and 1950–1959 cohorts, respectively. EDDC declined across successive cohorts, whereas the prevalence of overweight/obesity at age 50 increased. EDDC and overweight/obesity were associated with higher odds of reporting diabetes. A scenario that eliminates disadvantaged EDDC reduced diabetes prevalence by 11% in a pooled sample, while eliminating overweight/obesity reduced it by 30%. Overweight/obesity explained 42% of the rise in diabetes prevalence between the 1930–1939 and 1950–1959 cohorts. Improvement in EDDC explained 18% of the rise in diabetes prevalence between 1930–1939 and 1950–1959 cohorts.DiscussionHigh body weight across Mexican birth cohorts seemed to offset the potential benefits from improvements in childhood conditions on adult diabetes risk.