THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND POLYGENIC RISK SCORES ON BODY MASS INDEX AMONG NON-HISPANIC WHITE AMERICANS
Abstract
There is a high prevalence of obesity in the United States, particularly among individuals of low socioeconomic status. Very few studies have jointly investigated the combined influence of both genetics and social factors, such as early socioeconomic status and education, in relation to obesity. Genetic factors may increase the risk of obesity among individuals with low socioeconomic status. Therefore, this study examines whether the association between polygenic risk for BMI and Body Mass Index is independently modified by early life SES and adult education. The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was used for this study. Linear regression was used for the analysis, and I find out the association between PGS-BMI varies by levels of education but is not modified by early-life SES. This research indicates the influence of the social environment and genetic interaction on health outcomes.
