Risk factors for obesity in 7-year-old European children: the Auckland Birthweight Collaborative Study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors associated with obesity in primary school children, with a particular focus on those which can be modified. To identify critical periods and growth patterns in the development of childhood obesity.


METHODS
871 New Zealand European children were enrolled in a longitudinal study at birth and data were collected at birth, 1, 3.5 and 7 years of age. Data collected at 7 years included weight, height, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), television viewing time and a 24 h body movement record (actigraphy). The outcome measure was percentage body fat (PBF), which was calculated at 3.5 and 7 years using BIA. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were carried out using PBF as a continuous variable.


RESULTS
Multivariable analysis found maternal overweight/obesity, maternal age, female gender, sedentary activity time and hours of television viewing to be independently associated with PBF at 7 years. Growth variables (birth weight, rapid weight gain in infancy, early (1-3.5 years) and middle childhood (3.5-7 years)) were also independently associated with adiposity at 7 years. There was a strong correlation between PBF at 3.5 years and PBF at 7 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Many primary school aged children start on the trajectory of obesity in the preschool years, which suggests interventions need to start early. Maternal overweight/obesity, television watching, sedentary activity time and rapid weight gain in infancy, early and middle childhood are risk factors for childhood obesity, and are all potentially modifiable.
Blair
Nikki J
NJ
Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Thompson
John M D
JM
Black
Peter N
PN
Becroft
David M O
DM
Clark
Phillipa M
PM
Han
Dug Yeo
DY
Robinson
Elizabeth
E
Waldie
Karen E
KE
Wild
Chris J
CJ
Mitchell
Edwin A
EA
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors