Three Factors Predict Childhood Obesity

Three factors can be used to predict future overweight and obesity in children, according to the results of a recent study.

For their study, the researchers collected data from Birth (N = 3469) and Kinder (N = 3276) cohorts of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, recording measurements of 25 potential obesity indicators every 2 years.

Overall, 3 factors were found to predict overweight and obesity in both cohorts: higher child body mass index (BMI; odds ratio [OR], 1.67-3.35 across study waves), higher maternal BMI (OR, 1.05 to 1.09), and higher maternal education (inverse association, OR, 0.60 to 0.62 when accessed at ages 2 to 7 years).

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Lower odds of resolving existing overweight and obesity in adolescence was associated with higher child BMI (OR, 0.51 to 0.79), higher maternal BMI (OR, 0.89 to 0.95), and higher maternal education (inverse association, OR, 1.62 to 1.92 when assessed at ages 2 to 5 years).

Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 13% among adolescents with none of the 3 factors and 71% among those with all 3 factors.

“From early childhood onwards, child and maternal BMI and maternal education predict overweight/obesity onset and resolution by adolescence. A simple risk score, easily available to child health clinicians, could help target treatment or prevention,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Juonala M, Lau T, Wake M, et al. Early clinical markers of overweight/obesity onset and resolution by adolescence [published online October 7, 2019]. Int J Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0457-2.