Determinants of overweight in a cohort of Dutch children.
BACKGROUND
To improve the effective prevention and treatment of obesity, it is important to focus on body weight (BW) development and its determinants during childhood.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of early development, parental and genetic variables, and behavioral determinants on overweight at 12 y.


METHODS
In a Dutch cohort of 105 children, anthropometric measurements were conducted from birth until age 7 y. At age 12 y, anthropometric measurements were obtained again, as were measurements of body composition, leptin concentration, 3 polymorphisms, and physical activity, and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire was conducted. In addition, parental body mass indexes (BMIs, in kg/m2) and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire scores were determined.


RESULTS
The children's mean (+/-SD) BMI at 12 y was 19.0 +/- 2.6, and 15.2% were classified as overweight. From the first year of life, BMI tracked significantly with BMI at age 12 y (r = 0.24, P < 0.05). Linear regression analyses showed that a rapid increase in BW during the first year of life, a high BMI of the father, and a high dietary restraint score of the mother were significantly associated with overweight at age 12 y (P < 0.05). No significant genetic relation was observed. In addition, overweight was positively associated with dietary restraint of the child, and percentage body fat was negatively associated with the child's activity score (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In this homogeneous cohort of normal-weight to moderately overweight children, tracking of BMI during childhood took place from the first year of life. Overweight at age 12 y was predicted by an early rapid increase in BW and parental influences. Overweight during childhood may be maintained or even promoted by a high dietary restraint score and low physical activity.
Vogels
Neeltje
N
Departments of Human Biology and Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. n.vogels@hb.unimaas.nl
Posthumus
Danielle L A
DL
Mariman
Edwin C M
EC
Bouwman
Freek
F
Kester
Arnold D M
AD
Rump
Patrick
P
Hornstra
Gerard
G
Westerterp-Plantenga
Margriet S
MS
D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000235:genetics; D010290:Parents; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D020738:Leptin