title: Sleep and birthweight predict visceral adiposity in overweight/obese children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visceral adiposity poses significant consequences for long-term health and it is important to identify methods that can be used to prevent fat deposition in visceral adipose tissue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the factors contributing to differential fat distribution in overweight/obese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic, dietary and lifestyle factors potentially associated with increased visceral adipose tissue in overweight and obese South-Indian children aged 3 to 16 years. The diagnosis of visceral obesity was based on the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) cut-off value of 0.5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure variables with statistically different distributions in the two WHtR categories, when examined by Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests, were used to develop a binary logistic regression model of visceral adiposity. Increased birthweight and higher sleep duration were significant predictors of having a healthy WHtR, with odds ratios of 1.30 and 1.26 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early programming effects associated with low birthweight and current sleep deprivation could promote the storage of excess fat as visceral adipose tissue in overweight and obese children.
authors.affiliation: Harvard College, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sokolovic
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuriyan
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kurpad
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference