title: Patterns of growth associated with the timing of adiposity rebound.
abstract: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of age of adiposity rebound (AR) on measures of fat mass between ages 7 and 11 years, maturity, and adiposity in 458 children from a birth cohort studied to age 26 years. Patterns of growth between ages 3 and 26 years and changes in fat mass index between 7 and 11 years in groups with early (<5.5 years for boys and <5 years for girls), average (between 5.5 and 7.5 years for boys and between 5 and 7 years for girls), and late AR (> or =7.5 years for boys and > or =7 years for girls) are described. The mean z-scores for BMI, height, and weight increased between age 3 years and adolescence in the early-rebound group and decreased in the late-rebound group. The differences were maintained until adulthood for BMI and weight. Disproportionately high increases in fat mass index during growth (7-11 years), more advanced bone age in boys at age 7 years, and earlier menarche in girls were evident in the early-rebound group. The relative risks at 26 years of being overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obese (BMI > or =30 kg/m(2)) were 2.70 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55, 4.66) and 5.91 (95% CI: 3.03, 11.55) respectively, using the average group as the reference. The corresponding relative risks for adult waist girths exceeding international cut points were 2.12 (95% CI: 1.09, 4.13) and 3.32 (95% CI: 1.46, 7.54). Thus, early rebound is associated with increased depositions of fat in middle childhood, and risks associated with early rebound persist at least until early adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. sheila.williams@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ailsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goulding
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology; D009520:New Zealand; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology