Implications of childhood obesity for adult health: findings from thousand families cohort study |
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| Authors: | Charlotte M Wright Louise Parker Douglas Lamont Alan W Craft |
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| Affiliation: | aDonald Court House, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead NE8 1EB, bSir James Spence Institute of Child Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle NE1 4LP, c24 Seymour Lane, Alford, Lincolnshire, LN13 9AP |
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| Abstract: | ObjectiveTo determine whether being overweight in childhood increases adult obesity and risk of disease.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingCity of Newcastle upon Tyne.Participants932 members of thousand families 1947 birth cohort, of whom 412 attended for clinical examination age 50.ResultsBody mass index at age 9 years was significantly correlated with body mass index age 50 (r=0.24, P<0.001) but not with percentage body fat age 50 (r=0.10, P=0.07). After adult body mass index had been adjusted for, body mass index at age 9 showed a significant inverse association with measures of lipid and glucose metabolism in both sexes and with blood pressure in women. However, after adjustment for adult percentage fat instead of body mass index, only the inverse associations with triglycerides (regression coefficient= −0.21, P<0.01) and total cholesterol (−0.17, P<0.05) in women remained significant.ConclusionsLittle tracking from childhood overweight to adulthood obesity was found when using a measure of fatness that was independent of build. Only children who were obese at 13 showed an increased risk of obesity as adults. No excess adult health risk from childhood or teenage overweight was found. Being thin in childhood offered no protection against adult fatness, and the thinnest children tended to have the highest adult risk at every level of adult obesity. What is already known on this topicMany studies have found that body mass index in childhood is significantly correlated with body mass index in adulthoodObese children have been found to have higher all cause mortality as adultsWhat this study addsNo excess health risk from childhood overweight was foundChildhood body mass index was linked to adulthood body mass index but not percentage body fatOnly children who were obese at 13 showed a significant increased risk of obesity as adultsPeople who were thinnest as children and fattest as adults tended to have the highest adult risk |
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