Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34316000›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of obesity (2005)2021

Life course socioeconomic position and body composition in adulthood: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Charis Bridger Staatz, Yvonne Kelly, Rebecca E Lacey, Joanna M Blodgett, Anitha George, Megan Arnot, Emma Walker, Rebecca Hardy

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of obesity (2005), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  10. Socioeconomic Status and Obesity.Journal of the Endocrine Society · 2024
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Charis Bridger StaatzSocial Research Institute, Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK. charis.staatz.17@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2872-6968
Yvonne KellyDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2936-3994
Rebecca E LaceyDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3510-0795
Joanna M BlodgettDivision of Surgery and Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Institute of Sport Exercise and Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7684-3571
Anitha GeorgeDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5592-2323
Megan ArnotDepartment of Anthropology, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6293-5202
Emma WalkerDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
Rebecca HardySocial Research Institute, Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9949-0799

Funding

CIHRMedical Research Council MR/N013867/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMultiple systematic reviews have investigated the relation between socioeconomic position (SEP) and body mass index (BMI) throughout the life course. However, BMI does not capture quantity and distribution of fat and muscle, which are better indicators of obesity than BMI, and have been independently linked to adverse health outcomes. Less is known about the relation between SEP and body composition, and the literature has not been reviewed. We therefore systematically reviewed the literature on the association between life course SEP and body composition in adulthood.

methodsA protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019119937), and the review followed PRISMA guidelines. An electronic search of three databases (MEDLINE, Embase Classic + Embase and SPORTDiscus) was conducted. Original studies in the English language were included that examine the association between any recognised measure of SEP at any age and body composition (fat mass, fat-free mass, ratio and distribution) in adulthood, measured using a direct technique, i.e., not an anthropometric measure. A narrative synthesis was conducted.

resultsA total of 47 papers were included in the final review, none were from low-income countries (LICs). Greater advantage in childhood and adulthood was associated with lower fat levels in high-income countries (HICs). Associations in the opposite direction were found exclusively in middle-income countries (MICs). No studies in MICs reported associations for childhood SEP. For measures of lean mass, the majority of papers reported no association, or greater advantage in adulthood associated with higher lean mass, with little variation between HICs and MICs. Associations in HICs are more often observed in women than men.

conclusionThe results indicate that fat measures follow similar patterns to those seen for BMI, and that women in HICs are more likely to experience inequalities in both fat and lean measures. Further research in LICs and MICs is needed.

Indexed as

Body CompositionLife Change EventsSocial ClassAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID34316000
PMCPMC8528709

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.