The body mass index of teen mothers and their toddler children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate: change in Body Mass Index (BMI) of adolescent mothers (14-19 years of age) from pre-pregnancy to 36 months postpartum; BMI of their children age 2 or older; relationship between maternal BMI and children's BMI.


METHODS
Retrospective medical record abstraction of adolescent mothers attending a medical program in Massachusetts between 2001 and 2005 who had self-reported pre-pregnancy BMI data at first prenatal visit, at least one BMI measure 12 or more months postpartum, and who did not experience a repeat pregnancy (n = 52). Children of adolescent mothers were included if they had received their 2 (n = 41) and/or 3 (n = 28) year physical.


RESULTS
Adolescent mothers: overweight increased from 25% pre-pregnancy to 33% at 24-36 months postpartum; obesity more than doubled in the same time period, from 15% to 36%. Those with BMI data available pre-pregnancy and postpartum had an increase in mean BMI from 25 pre-pregnancy to 29 at 24-36 months postpartum (P < 0.001). Two-year-old children: About 5% were at risk for overweight and 12% were overweight. Three-year-old children: About 18% were at risk for overweight and 18% were overweight. When BMI categories of children were compared to BMI categories of their mothers, there was a trend for adolescent mothers with overweight/obesity at 24-36 months postpartum to have 3-year-old children at risk for overweight or overweight (P = 0.092).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant increase in overweight/obesity in this cohort of adolescent mothers and their children followed 36 months postpartum. The long-term sequelae of overweight/obesity indicates a need for effective interventions.
Lemay
Celeste A
CA
Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Benedict Building, A3-110, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA. celeste.lemay@umassmed.edu
Elfenbein
Dianne S
DS
Cashman
Suzanne B
SB
Felice
Marianne E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008499:Medical Records; D009035:Mothers; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment