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Cited by 5Birth, Development, and HealthRace, Genetics, and SocietyHealth disparities and outcomes

A critical biocultural approach to early growth in the United States

Miller, Elizabeth M.·2022·American Journal of Human Biology
DOI 10.1002/ajhb.23726
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Abstract

Objectives A critical biocultural anthropology seeks to link perspectives from social theory and ethnography to human biology. In the United States (U.S.), multiple forms of structural inequalities affect early growth, including racism and poverty. The goal of this paper is to test the effects of social inequalities on birth weight and later height in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES), and to contextualize potential pathways of embodiment that link social structure and biology. Methods This study used data from 8392 children ages 0–5 years from the 2005 to 2016 NHANES. Reported birth weight and measured length/height (converted to height-for-age z-scores) were used as outcome variables, while various measures of socioeconomic status and the NHANES-defined race and ethnicity categories were operationalized as social variables. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was chosen to represent the data. Results The final model represented an excellent fit to the data. Higher birth weights were associated with higher height-for-age z-scores. The Black racial category was associated with lower birth weight and higher height-for-age z-score, while the “Other” racial category was also associated with lower birth weight. The socioeconomic status factor variable was significantly associated with birth weight and height-for-age z-scores. There were also multiple indirect effects of social variables on height-for-age z-scores mediated via their effects on birth weight. Conclusions Inequalities in race and socioeconomic status persist in birth weight and early childhood stature in the U.S. These findings can be contextualized by a critical biocultural anthropology that integrates lived experiences and pathways of embodiment.

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Epstein R., 2017, Girlhood interrupted: The erasure of black girls' childhood
  2. 10.1515/9780822376149 · DOI
  3. Richardson S. S., 2015, Postgenomics, 210
  4. Sävendahl L., 2012, The effect of acute and chronic stress on growth, Science Signaling, 5, pt9

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Authors
Miller, E. M.
Affiliations
University of South Florida (US)
Corresponding author
Miller, Elizabeth M.
ORCID
Miller, Elizabeth M.
Venue
American Journal of Human Biology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2022-02-05
Volume
34
Issue
6
Pages
e23726-e23726
ISSN
  • 1042-0533 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-6300
DOI
10.1002/ajhb.23726
OpenAlex
W4210382251
Cited by
5
References
81
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1
FWCI
1.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • American Journal of Human Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Race, Genetics, and Society
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Keywords
early childhood growth, birth weight, height-for-age, socioeconomic status, racism, structural inequality, embodiment, racial disparities, poverty, children under five, United States
MeSH terms
Birth Weight, Body Height, Child, Child, Preschool, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Nutrition Surveys, Social Class, Socioeconomic Factors, United States

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