Cardiovascular risk factors from birth to 7 years of age: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Tracking of body composition variables.
Height, weight, and skinfold measurements were obtained on a cohort of 447 children from birth (weight) or 6 months of age (height and skinfold) and monitored yearly thereafter until 7 years of age. At age 7 years, 250 remained for follow-up screening. A significant degree of tracking was found for all variables from age 1 to age 7 years. Height and weight tracked most strongly (age 1- to 7-year correlations = .42 and .44, respectively), whereas skinfold tracked somewhat lower (.28). Earlier levels of each anthropometric variable were the best predictor of later levels of that parameter. Implications for early detection and treatment of growth abnormalities are discussed.
Harsha
D W
DW
Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans.
Smoak
C G
CG
Nicklas
T A
TA
Webber
L S
LS
Berenson
G S
GS
D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness