Life Course Neighborhood Deprivation Effects on Body Mass Index: Quantifying the Importance of Selective Migration
Emily T Murray1, Owen Nicholas2, Paul Norman3
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1B 7HB, UK.
Summary
This study found that body mass index (BMI) and area deprivation track across life, but selective migration doesn't explain their association. Residential mobility did not modify these neighborhood effects on BMI.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Neighborhood effects research struggles to isolate true neighborhood impacts from self-selection.
- Understanding the life course relationship between body mass index (BMI) and area deprivation is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate life course relationships between BMI and area deprivation, accounting for selection effects.
- To examine whether residential mobility modifies the association between BMI and area deprivation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1958 and 1970 British Birth Cohorts.
- Employed structural equation modeling to analyze BMI and area deprivation (Townsend score) across multiple life stages.
- Assessed health selection and the impact of residential mobility.
Main Results:
- Both BMI and area deprivation showed strong tracking across the life course in both cohorts.
- Health selection (higher BMI preceding higher area deprivation) was observed at specific life intervals.
- Paths between area deprivation and BMI were present across intervals, but not universally.
- Residential mobility did not significantly alter the observed associations.
Conclusions:
- Selective migration does not appear to be the primary driver of the association between area deprivation and BMI over the life course.
- The findings suggest a more complex interplay between individual health behaviors and neighborhood characteristics.
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