title: Birth weight and growth from infancy to late adolescence in relation to fat and lean mass in early old age: findings from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High birth weight and greater weight gain in infancy have been associated with increased risk of obesity as assessed using body mass index, but few studies have examined associations with direct measures of fat and lean mass. This study examined associations of birth weight and weight and height gain in infancy, childhood and adolescence with fat and lean mass in early old age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 746 men and 812 women in England, Scotland and Wales from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development whose heights and weights had been prospectively ascertained across childhood and adolescence and who had dual energy X-ray absorptiometry measures at age 60-64 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations of birth weight and standardised weight and height (0-2 (weight only), 2-4, 4-7, 7-11, 11-15, 15-20 years) gain velocities with outcome measures were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher birth weight was associated with higher lean mass and lower android/gynoid ratio at age 60-64 years. For example, the mean difference in lean mass per 1 standard deviation increase in birth weight was 1.54 kg in males (95% confidence interval=1.04, 2.03) and 0.78 kg in females (0.41, 1.14). Greater weight gain in infancy was associated with higher lean mass, whereas greater gains in weight in later childhood and adolescence were associated with higher fat and lean mass, and fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios. Across growth intervals greater height gain was associated with higher lean but not fat mass, and with lower fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that growth in early life may have lasting effects on fat and lean mass. Greater weight gain before birth and in infancy may be beneficial by leading to higher lean mass, whereas greater weight gain in later childhood and adolescence may be detrimental by leading to higher fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios.
authors.affiliation: MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Division of Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bann
authors.affiliation: MRC CAiTE, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.affiliation: MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Division of Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Division of Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.affiliation: Academic Geriatric Medicine, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aihie Sayer
authors.affiliation: Clinical Radiology and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), Manchester Royal Infirmary, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Division of Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuh
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*