title: Risk for obesity in adolescence starts in early childhood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the predictive value of body mass index (BMI) at earlier ages on risk of overweight/obesity at age of 11 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a longitudinal study of 907 children from birth to age of 11 years. Predictors include BMI at earlier ages and outcome is overweight/obesity status at age of 11 years. Analyses were adjusted for covariates known to affect BMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 11 years, 17% were overweight and 25% were obese. Children whose BMI was measured as ≥85th percentile once at preschool age had a twofold risk for overweight/obesity at 11 years of age. Risk increased by 11-fold if a child's BMI measured was noted more than once during this age. During early elementary years, if a child's BMI was>85th percentile once, risk for overweight/obesity at 11 years was fivefold and increased by 72-fold if noted more than two times. During late elementary years, if a child's BMI was>85th percentile once, risk for overweight/obesity was 26-fold and increased by 351-fold if noted more than two times. Risk of overweight/obesity at 11 years was noted with higher maternal prepregnancy weight, higher birth weight, female gender and increased television viewing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children in higher BMI categories at young ages have a higher risk of overweight/obesity at 11 years of age. Effect size was greater for measurements taken closer to 11 years of age. Pediatricians need to identify children at-risk for adolescent obesity and initiate counseling and intervention at earlier ages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. sshankar@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shankaran
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bada
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Gasse
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors