Federal Institute for Population Research: According to the study, educational background has a major influence on health
One has the educational level of parents study have a lifelong impact on their children’s health. According to the study by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) in Wiesbaden, people from so-called uneducated families are more likely to be overweight even in adulthood and rate their own health worse than children of more highly educated parents.
“Our analyzes show significantly poorer health among people with poorly educated parents,” said BiB researcher Matthias Huebener. 49 percent of those surveyed who do not have a parent with a high school diploma are therefore overweight. However, among people whose parents both have a high school diploma, the proportion of overweight people is just under 31 percent.
According to the study, people from families with less education also rate their own health worse in adulthood than children of more highly educated parents. Around 77 percent of people whose parents have a high school diploma rate their health as good or very good. For children without parents with a high school diploma, this figure is only 66 percent.
“Lower life expectancy in the long term”
The scientists see the central reasons for the differences as being that children from educated families often achieved better educational qualifications and higher incomes and worked less physically strenuously. This could already contribute to better health. Children from more educated families could also have better eating and exercise habits.
“In the long term, poorer health will be reflected in a lower life expectancy,” warned study author Mara Barschkett. The disadvantages must therefore be counteracted at an early stage. “One approach is to give children access to good quality education regardless of their parents’ background.”
The study is based on data from a long-term family demographic survey, which is based on information from up to 16,600 respondents between the ages of 18 and 50.
One has the educational level of parents study have a lifelong impact on their children’s health. According to the study by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) in Wiesbaden, people from so-called uneducated families are more likely to be overweight even in adulthood and rate their own health worse than children of more highly educated parents.
“Our analyzes show significantly poorer health among people with poorly educated parents,” said BiB researcher Matthias Huebener. 49 percent of those surveyed who do not have a parent with a high school diploma are therefore overweight. However, among people whose parents both have a high school diploma, the proportion of overweight people is just under 31 percent.
