Association of exposure to famine early in life with indicators of obesity in adulthood: testosterone as a potential mediator?

Background: The Chinese famine occurred between 1959 and 1961. Findings on early exposure to famine on obesity have been inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of early exposure to famine on obesity and the mediating role of testosterone.

Methods: The design enrolled 2667 participants from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. The associations between early famine exposure and indicators of obesity and obesity were explored using generalized linear models and logistic regression models, respectively. Stratified analyses by sex were performed to account for potential sex-specific effects. Mediation analyses were applied to address the contribution of testosterone in mediating the impact of early-life famines on obesity and its indicators.

Results: The median age of the study participants was 54 (range: 48-64) years old. Fetal famine exposure was positively associated with central obesity (waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) in both sexes. Nevertheless, childhood famine exposure (3-9 years old after 3-year famine) was negatively associated with general obesity (body mass index (BMI)), and central obesity (WC) in males. In contrast, childhood famine exposure in females was positively associated with central obesity (WHR and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)). Mediation analyses suggested that testosterone partially mediated the association of childhood famine exposure with central obesity (WC), BMI, WC, and WHtR in males, with mediation effect proportions ranging from 3.27% to 11.85%. In females, testosterone mediates the role of childhood famine in increasing the risk of central obesity (WHR), WHR, and WHtR, with mediating effect proportions of 5.50%, 3.60%, and 7.17%, respectively.

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.