Child height and the risk of young-adult obesity.
BACKGROUND
Childhood obesity is a major risk factor for adult obesity, and obese children tend to be taller than their normal-weight peers.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate whether childhood height influences the probability that normal or overweight children become overweight young adults.


METHODS
The study involved a multicenter prospective cohort of subjects assessed in both third grade and 12th grade, n=2802. Main exposures were CDC childhood BMI categories and height quartiles from third-grade measurements. Main outcome measure was CDC adult BMI categories from 12th-grade measurements. Associations between childhood height quartiles, childhood BMI categories, and adult BMI categories were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression models.


RESULTS
Overall, 79% of overweight children remained overweight as young adults. Among children who were overweight or obese, the probability of becoming an overweight or obese young adult was 85% for children in the top quartile of height and 67% for children in the bottom quartile of height (p=0.007). Among children who were normal weight, the probability of becoming an overweight or obese young adult was 25% for children in the top height quartile versus 17% for children in the bottom height quartile (p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
When clinicians classify children by BMI categories and counsel about the risk for future obesity, they should recognize that greater height may be a marker for increased risk of adult overweight and obesity.
Stovitz
Steven D
SD
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55414, USA. sstovitz@umphysicians.umn.edu
Hannan
Peter J
PJ
Lytle
Leslie A
LA
Demerath
Ellen W
EW
Pereira
Mark A
MA
Himes
John H
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology