Early Weight Status and Human Capital in Adulthood: A 32-Year Follow-Up of the 1970 British Cohort Study

Abstract

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate the effects of early weight status (childhood and adolescence) and changes in obesity status on human capital in adulthood. Methods: We employed data from the 1970 Birth Cohort Study in the United Kingdom. Data on height and weight during childhood and adolescence, human capital variables in adulthood were collected from 2,444 participants. Human capital includes cognitive ability, non-cognitive skill, educational attainment and health status. Data were analyzed through linear regression and logistic regression models. Results: Our results showed that obesity during adolescence was negatively associated with cognitive ability (β = −0.83, p < 0.01), educational attainment (β = −0.49, p < 0.01), and some health outcomes; and that underweight in childhood also adversely affected educational attainment in females (β = −0.66, p < 0.05). In terms of changes in obesity status, becoming obese in adolescence negatively affected cognitive ability (β = −1.18, p < 0.01), educational attainment (β = −0.62, p < 0.05) and some health outcomes, remaining obese was associated with all adverse health outcomes. Conclusion: Our results suggest that obesity during adolescence negatively affects a range of human capital outcomes in adulthood, and adolescence is a critical period during which early obesity affects adult human capital.