# The association of famine exposure with healthy lifestyles at different life stages in rural older adults in China

## TL;DR

The study explores how exposure to famine in early life affects healthy lifestyles in older adults in rural China, finding gender-specific differences.

## Contribution

The study identifies gender disparities in the long-term health effects of famine exposure during early life stages in rural China.

## Key findings

- Men exposed to famine in infancy and preschool had a higher likelihood of smoking and drinking.
- Women exposed to famine in early life stages were more likely to have unhealthy weight and central obesity.
- Famine exposure in preschool and school age was linked to healthier lifestyle scores in adulthood.

## Abstract

To assess the potential association between exposure to Chinese famine and healthy lifestyles, as well as any gender disparities in this relationship to provide a scientific basis for the development of effective public health policies and interventions.

We used binary logistic regression models to estimate the potential association between famine exposure and healthy lifestyles and stratified by sex for comparisons. Unordered multicategory logistic regression model was used to assess the association between famine exposure and healthy lifestyle scores. We presented this association with Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

A total of 6,458 individuals were enrolled in the current study, of whom 4,155(64.3%) were women. Men exposed to famine in infancy (OR = 0.650, 95%CI: 0.506–0.834) and preschool (OR = 0.788, 95%CI: 0.631–0.985) was negatively associated with non-smoking and women exposed famine in infancy (OR = 0.699, 95%CI: 0.574–0.851), preschool (OR = 0.734, 95%CI: 0.613–0.880), and school age (OR = 0.764, 95%CI: 0.673–0.916) was negatively associated with normal weight, and women were more likely to be central obesity during exposed to famine in infancy (OR = 0.763, 95%CI: 0.624–0.934). The likelihood of having a healthy lifestyle score of 5–6 as an adult was higher for experiencing famine in preschool and school age.

Men exposed to the Chinese famine during infancy were positively associated with smoking and drinking, while women exhibited a positive association with central obesity. Women had unhealthy weight if they experienced famine early in life and a call for attention to nutritional status and women's health in the early life.