Growth of children at high risk of obesity during the first 6 y of life: implications for prevention

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 81; no. 1; pp. 140 - 146
• Main Authors: Berkowitz, R.I, Stallings, V.A, Maislin, G, Stunkard, A.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 2005; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; body fat; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Child; child development; child nutrition; Child, Preschool; children; Children & youth; disease prevention; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth; Health risk assessment; Humans; inheritance (genetics); lean body mass; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Obesity; Obesity - genetics; overweight; Parents; Physical growth; Risk Factors; Skinfold Thickness; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; Obesity; High risk; risk factors; Growth; Body weight; Nutrition disorder; genetic influence; Fat mass; Skinfold thickness; Prevention; Risk factor; Childhood; Genetics; Child; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/81.1.140

Background: The contribution of familial factors to adiposity in children is poorly understood. Objective: The objective was to assess differences in growth in the first 6 y of life in children born to either overweight or lean mothers. Design: The body size and composition of 33 children at high risk and 37 children at low risk of obesity on the basis of the mother's overweight body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) of 30.2 +/- 4.2 and 19.5 +/- 1.1, respectively were measured repeatedly from 3 mo to 6 y of age at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Results: At year 2, no significant differences in any measure were observed between the high- and low-risk groups. By year 4, weight, BMI, and lean body mass were greater in the high-risk than in the low-risk children. By year 6, weight was even greater in the high-risk than in the low-risk children (23.4 +/- 6.4 compared with 20.4 +/- 2.1 kg; P < 0.02), and, for the first time, fat mass was greater in the high-risk than in the low-risk children (6.7 +/- 5.7 compared with 3.8 +/- 1.2 kg; P < 0.02). Ten of 33 high-risk children exceeded the 85th percentile of BMI at year 6 compared with 1 of 37 low-risk children (odds ratio = 15.7). Accelerated weight gain was predicted by high-risk group status, greater weight at year 2, and lower family income. Conclusion: Anthropometric measures were not significantly different between groups at year 2; weight and lean body mass were greater at years 4 and 6, and fat mass was greater at year 6 in high-risk children.