Adult socioeconomic, educational, social, and psychological outcomes of childhood obesity: a national birth cohort study -- Viner and Cole 330 (7504):

Adult socioeconomic, educational, social, and psychological outcomes of childhood obesity: a national birth cohort study -- Viner and Cole 330 (7504): 1354 -- BMJ: "Obesity in childhood only was not associated with adult social class, income, years of schooling, educational attainment, relationships, or psychological morbidity in either sex after adjustment for confounding factors. Persistent obesity was not associated with any adverse adult outcomes in men, though it was associated among women with a higher risk of never having been gainfully employed (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.3) and not having a current partner (2.0, 1.3 to 3.3).

Conclusions Obesity limited to childhood has little impact on adult outcomes. Persistent obesity in women is associated with poorer employment and relationship outcomes. Efforts to reduce the socioeconomic and psychosocial burden of obesity in adult life should focus on prevention of the persistence of obesity from childhood into adulthood.

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