Citation
Tong, Guangyu & Guo, Guang (2020). The Life-Course Association of Birth-Weight Genes with Self-Rated Health. Biodemography and Social Biology, 65(3), 268-286. PMCID: PMC8607814Abstract
This study examines the impact of genes associated with normal-range birth weight (2500-4500 grams) on self-rated health in mid-to-late life course. Fifty-eight previously identified genetic variants that explain the variation in the normal-range birth weight were used to construct a genetic measure of birth weight for the non-Hispanic white sample from the Health and Retirement Study. Our results show that the genetic tendency toward higher birth weight predicts better self-rated health in mid-to-late life course net of various demographic, socioeconomic, and health behavioral factors. We also examine the heterogeneous effects of birth-weight genes across birth cohorts and age groups. Moreover, to clarify the paradox that higher birth weight can predict both better self-rated health and higher BMI, we show the positive association between birth weight genes and BMI can only hold within the normal-range BMI (18URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19485565.2020.1765733Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2020Journal Title
Biodemography and Social BiologyAuthor(s)
Tong, GuangyuGuo, Guang