title: Growth trajectories in the children of mothers with eating disorders: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine longitudinal patterns of growth trajectories in children of women with eating disorders (ED): anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective longitudinal birth cohort; Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  South West England, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of women and their children (n=10 190) from ALSPAC. Patterns of growth among children of women reporting a history of AN (n=137), BN (n=165), both AN and BN (n=68) and other psychiatric disorders (n=920) were compared with an unexposed group of children (n=8900).
  
  
  METHODS
  Height and weight data, from birth to 10 years, were extracted from health visitor records, parental report from questionnaires and clinic attendances. Growth trajectories were analysed using mixed-effects models and constructed separately for male and female children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between birth and 10 years, male children of women with BN were taller than children in the unexposed group. Male children of women with a history of AN and BN, and female children of women with AN, were shorter throughout childhood. Between the ages of 2 and 5, higher body mass index (BMI) was observed in male children in all maternal ED groups. Conversely, female children of women with AN had a BMI of -0.35 kg/m(2) lower at 2 years compared with the unexposed group, with catch-up by age 10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early childhood growth has been found to predict weight gain in adolescence and adulthood, and may be a risk factor for the development of an ED. These findings therefore have public health implications in relation to the prevention of weight-related and eating-related disorders later in life.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, University College London, Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Easter
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tilling
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Micali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000209:etiology; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000209:etiology; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; Psychiatry; Public Health