%0 Journal Article %J Journal of Aging and Health %D 2019 %T Early Life Displacement Due to Armed Conflict and Violence, Early Nutrition, and Older Adult Hypertension, Diabetes, and Obesity in the Middle-Income Country of Colombia. %A Mary McEniry %A Samper-Ternent, Rafael %A Flórez, Carmen Elisa %A Cano-Gutierrez, Carlos %K Childhood adversity %K Cross-National %K Diabetes %K Obesity %K SAGE %X

OBJECTIVE: We examine the importance of early life displacement and nutrition on hypertension (HTN) and diabetes in older Colombian adults (60+ years) exposed to rapid demographic, epidemiological, and nutritional transitions, and armed conflict. We compare early life nutritional status and adult health in other middle- and high-income countries.

METHOD: In Colombia (Survey of Health, Wellbeing and Aging [SABE]-Bogotá), we estimate the effects of early life conditions (displacement due to armed conflict and violence, hunger, low height, and not born in the capital city) and obesity on adult health; we compare the effects of low height on adult health in Mexico, South Africa (Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health [SAGE]), the United States, and England (Health and Retirement Study [HRS], English Longitudinal Study of Ageing [ELSA]).

RESULTS: Early life displacement, early poor nutrition, and adult obesity increase the risk of HTN and diabetes in Colombia. Being short is most detrimental for HTN in Colombian males.

DISCUSSION: Colombian data provide new evidence into how early life conditions and adult obesity contribute to older adult health.

%B Journal of Aging and Health %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29916766?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1177/0898264318778111