Research
Mixed
Lower childhood socioeconomic position is associated with slower walking and chair rise speeds in later life, independent of adult risk factors.
Early-life environment and socioeconomic status have long-lasting effects on physical capability in old age. While you cannot change your childhood, understanding this life-course perspective highlights the importance of early interventions and the cumulative impact of lifetime factors on health.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
One HALCyon systematic review and meta-analysis showed modest associations between lower childhood socioeconomic position and slower walking and chair rise speeds that remained after adjustment for adult risk factors.
Why this rating
Based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses, but described as 'modest associations'.
Source
A life-course approach to healthy ageing: maintaining physical capability
Diana Kuh et al. · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · 2014
DOI 10.1017/s0029665113003923
narrative_reviewCited 205×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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