Socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in China: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015

Backgrounds: Socio-economic disparities in growth trajectories of children from low-/middle-income countries are poorly understood, especially those experiencing rapid economic growth. We investigated socio-economic disparities in child growth in recent decades in China.Methods: Using longitudinal d...

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Main Authors: Mingyue Gao, Jonathan C Wells, Will Johnson, Leah Li
Format: Default Article
Published: 2022
Subjects:
socio-economic disparities
height trajectories
BMI trajectories
Chinese children and adolescents
changes over time
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2134/19064405.v1
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author Mingyue Gao
Jonathan C Wells
Will Johnson
Leah Li
author_facet Mingyue Gao
Jonathan C Wells
Will Johnson
Leah Li
author_sort Mingyue Gao (6844364)
collection Figshare
description Backgrounds: Socio-economic disparities in growth trajectories of children from low-/middle-income countries are poorly understood, especially those experiencing rapid economic growth. We investigated socio-economic disparities in child growth in recent decades in China.Methods: Using longitudinal data on 5,095 children/adolescents (7-18y) from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991-2015), we estimated mean height and BMI trajectories by socio-economic position (SEP) and sex for cohorts born in 1981-85, 1986-90, 1991-95, 1996-2000, using random-effects models. We estimated differences between high (urbanization index ≥median, household income per capita ≥median, parental education ≥high school, or occupational classes I-IV) and low SEP groups.Findings: Mean height and BMI trajectories have shifted upwards across cohorts. In all cohorts, growth trajectories for high SEP groups were above those for low SEP groups across SEP indicators. For height, socio-economic differences persisted across cohorts (e.g. 3.8cm and 2.9cm in earliest and latest cohorts by urbanization index for boys at 10y, and 3.6cm and 3.1cm respectively by household income). For BMI, trends were greater in high than low SEP groups, thus socio-economic differences increased across cohorts (e.g. 0.5 to 0.8kg/m2 by urbanization index, 0.4 to 1.1kg/m2 by household income for boys at 10y). Similar trends were found for stunting and overweight/obesity by SEP. There was no association between SEP indicators and thinness.Interpretation: Socio-economic disparities in physical growth persist among Chinese youth. Short stature was associated with lower SEP, but high BMI with higher SEP. Public health interventions should be tailored by SEP, in order to improve children’s growth while reducing overweight/obesity.
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spelling rr-article-190644052022-02-26T00:00:00Z Socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in China: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015 Mingyue Gao (6844364) Jonathan C Wells (12007353) Will Johnson (2797078) Leah Li (330916) socio-economic disparities height trajectories BMI trajectories Chinese children and adolescents changes over time <div>Backgrounds: Socio-economic disparities in growth trajectories of children from low-/middle-income countries are poorly understood, especially those experiencing rapid economic growth. We investigated socio-economic disparities in child growth in recent decades in China.</div><div>Methods: Using longitudinal data on 5,095 children/adolescents (7-18y) from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991-2015), we estimated mean height and BMI trajectories by socio-economic position (SEP) and sex for cohorts born in 1981-85, 1986-90, 1991-95, 1996-2000, using random-effects models. We estimated differences between high (urbanization index ≥median, household income per capita ≥median, parental education ≥high school, or occupational classes I-IV) and low SEP groups.</div><div>Findings: Mean height and BMI trajectories have shifted upwards across cohorts. In all cohorts, growth trajectories for high SEP groups were above those for low SEP groups across SEP indicators. For height, socio-economic differences persisted across cohorts (e.g. 3.8cm and 2.9cm in earliest and latest cohorts by urbanization index for boys at 10y, and 3.6cm and 3.1cm respectively by household income). For BMI, trends were greater in high than low SEP groups, thus socio-economic differences increased across cohorts (e.g. 0.5 to 0.8kg/m<sup>2</sup> by urbanization index, 0.4 to 1.1kg/m<sup>2</sup> by household income for boys at 10y). Similar trends were found for stunting and overweight/obesity by SEP. There was no association between SEP indicators and thinness.</div><div>Interpretation: Socio-economic disparities in physical growth persist among Chinese youth. Short stature was associated with lower SEP, but high BMI with higher SEP. Public health interventions should be tailored by SEP, in order to improve children’s growth while reducing overweight/obesity.</div> 2022-02-26T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 2134/19064405.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Socio-economic_disparities_in_child-to-adolescent_growth_trajectories_in_China_Findings_from_the_China_Health_and_Nutrition_Survey_1991-2015/19064405 CC BY 4.0
spellingShingle socio-economic disparities
height trajectories
BMI trajectories
Chinese children and adolescents
changes over time
Mingyue Gao
Jonathan C Wells
Will Johnson
Leah Li
Socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in China: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015
title Socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in China: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015
title_full Socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in China: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015
title_fullStr Socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in China: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015
title_full_unstemmed Socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in China: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015
title_short Socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in China: Findings from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015
title_sort socio-economic disparities in child-to-adolescent growth trajectories in china: findings from the china health and nutrition survey 1991-2015
topic socio-economic disparities
height trajectories
BMI trajectories
Chinese children and adolescents
changes over time
url https://hdl.handle.net/2134/19064405.v1

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