title: Heterogeneity of sex-stratified BMI trajectories in children from 8 to 14 years old.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Describe and predict sex-stratified trajectories of weight change in youths transitioning from childhood to adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using an accelerated longitudinal design, 461 children between 8 and 12 years old at baseline were followed over three years. Body mass index was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Latent class growth analysis was used to identify BMI trajectories and multinomial logistic regressions, to predict group membership.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A four-group heterogeneous trajectory model emerged for boys and girls alike. Characteristics of the trajectories differed between sexes and no obesity group was found for boys. Sociocultural factors, such as media influence, body dissatisfaction, weight victimization, awareness of thin-ideal standards and related pressures were important correlates of trajectory membership.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMI trajectories during preadolescence are stable over time for heavier children. Body image concerns and weight stigmatization stand out as important factors in the prediction of developmental weight trajectories and could therefore be integrated in weight gain prevention programs for children of all weights as well as in weight management interventions for overweight and obese children.
authors: Université du Québec en Outaouais, Département de psychoéducation et de psychologie, Campus de St-Jérôme, 5, rue Saint-Joseph, Saint-Jérôme, QC J7Z 0B7, Canada. Electronic address: marie-christine.brault@uqo.ca.
authors: Marie-Christine
authors: MC
authors: Brault
authors: Université du Québec en Outaouais, Département de psychoéducation et de psychologie, Campus de St-Jérôme, 5, rue Saint-Joseph, Saint-Jérôme, QC J7Z 0B7, Canada. Electronic address: annie.aime@uqo.ca.
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Aimé
authors: Université Laval, École de psychologie, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, 2325, rue des Bibliothèques, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada. Electronic address: catherine.Begin@psy.ulaval.ca.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Bégin
authors: Université Laval, Département des sciences de l'éducation, Pavillon Sciences de l'éducation, 2320, rue des Bibliothèques, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada. Electronic address: Pierre.Valois@fse.ulaval.ca.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Valois
authors: Queen's University, Psychology Department, 221 Craine, Psychology Department, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada. Electronic address: wendy.craig@queensu.ca.
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Craig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: BMI trajectory; Children; Latent class growth analysis; Sociocultural factors