title: Observing anthropometric and acanthosis nigrican changes among children over time.
abstract: This study assessed the anthropometrics and acanthosis nigricans (AN) in a sample of 7,337 children at two assessments. Four groups of children were identified based on the presence of AN at both time points: those who never had the marker, those who gained the marker, those who lost the marker, and those who maintained the marker. Group differences in height, weight, body composition, and the amount of change in these variables over time were explored. Our findings demonstrated that children who maintain or gain the AN marker had the greatest height, weight, and body composition changes over time. It is apparent that the AN marker does disappear in some children and that this is associated with lower weight gain and body composition loss. If interventions can be developed targeting children who present with the marker, it is likely that their risk of developing type 2 diabetes could be reduced.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Northrup
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wittberg
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lilly
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cottrell
mesh_terms: D000052:Acanthosis Nigricans / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: acanthosis nigricans; children; longitudinal assessment