Tracking of body size from birth to 7 years of age and factors associated with maintenance of a high body size from birth to 7 years of age--the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study (MoBa).
OBJECTIVE
To examine tracking of body size among children participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) from birth to 7 years of age and additionally to explore child and parental characteristics associated with maintenance of a high body size in this period of life.


METHODS
Anthropometric data at birth and at 1, 3 and 7 years of age were collected by questionnaires addressed to the mother.


METHODS
Participants were recruited from all over Norway during the period 1999-2008.


METHODS
A total of 3771 children had complete anthropometric data at birth and at 1, 3 and 7 years of age; the sample includes children born between 2002 and 2004.


RESULTS
Cohen's weighted kappa pointed to fair (0.36) to moderate (0.43) tracking of body size from birth to 7 years of age. Generalized estimating equations further indicated that children in the highest tertile of ponderal index at birth had nearly one unit higher BMI (kg/m(2)) at the age of 7 years compared with children in other tertiles of ponderal index at birth. Having parents with high BMI (≥ 25.0 kg/m(2)) increased the odds of having a stable high body size from birth to 7 years of age; moreover, girls had significantly higher odds compared with boys.


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates fair to moderate tracking of body size from birth to 7 years of age. From a public health perspective, early prevention of childhood overweight and obesity seems to be especially important among children of parents having a high BMI.
1Department of Nutrition,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,University of Oslo,PO Box 1046 Blindern,0316 Oslo,Norway.
Anne Lene
AL
Kristiansen
1Department of Nutrition,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,University of Oslo,PO Box 1046 Blindern,0316 Oslo,Norway.
Mona
M
Bjelland
2Department of Exposure and Risk Assessment,Division of Environmental Medicine,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Nydalen,Norway.
Anne Lise
AL
Brantsæter
2Department of Exposure and Risk Assessment,Division of Environmental Medicine,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Nydalen,Norway.
Margaretha
M
Haugen
2Department of Exposure and Risk Assessment,Division of Environmental Medicine,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Nydalen,Norway.
Helle Margrete
HM
Meltzer
2Department of Exposure and Risk Assessment,Division of Environmental Medicine,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Nydalen,Norway.
Wenche
W
Nystad
1Department of Nutrition,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,University of Oslo,PO Box 1046 Blindern,0316 Oslo,Norway.
Lene Frost
LF
Andersen
D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Body size; Generalized estimating equations; MoBa; Norway; Tracking