Association of exposure to famine early in life with indicators of obesity in adulthood: testosterone as a potential mediator?
Authors' conclusion
Fetal famine exposure increases the risk of central obesity. Childhood famine exposure showed sex-specific effects on central obesity, with a negative association in males and a positive association in females. Additionally, testosterone has been found for the first time to partially mediate the positive association of childhood famine on obesity.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of the Henan Rural Cohort Study, China (Chinese famine 1959–1961); median age 54 (range 48–64) years
- Participants
- 2,667 participants
- Exposure
- Fetal or childhood famine exposure vs no early famine exposure
- Outcome
- Indicators of obesity (BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR) and obesity; mediating role of testosterone
Methodological detailssex-stratified analyses, mediation analysis
- Sex-stratified analyses
- Mediation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Obesity indicators by famine exposure
- Fetal famine exposure positively associated with central obesity (waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) in both sexes
- Childhood famine exposure negatively associated with general obesity (body mass index (BMI)) and central obesity (WC) in males
- Childhood famine exposure positively associated with central obesity (WHR and WHtR) in females
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Testosterone mediation, males
- Testosterone partially mediated association of childhood famine exposure with central obesity (WC), BMI, WC and WHtR; mediation proportions
- 3.27% to 11.85%
Testosterone mediation, females
- Mediation proportion, childhood famine and central obesity (WHR)
- 5.50%
- Mediation proportion, WHR
- 3.60%
- Mediation proportion, WHtR
- 7.17%
Original publication
Association of exposure to famine early in life with indicators of obesity in adulthood: testosterone as a potential mediator? Int J Obes (Lond). Published 7 August 2025. doi:10.
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