Childhood body mass index trajectories predicting cardiovascular risk in adolescence.
OBJECTIVE
The present study compared growth parameters of girls' and boys' body mass index (BMI) trajectories from infancy to middle childhood and evaluated these parameters as predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adolescence.


METHODS
Using 657 children from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, quadratic growth curve analyses were conducted to establish growth parameters (intercept, slope, and quadratic term) for girls and boys from age 15 months to 10.5 years. Parameters were compared across gender and evaluated as predictors of a CVD risk index at the age of 15 years, controlling for characteristics of the adiposity rebound (AR) including age at which it occurred and children's BMI at the rebound.


RESULTS
Boys had more extreme trajectories of growth than girls with higher initial BMI at age 15 months (intercept), more rapid declines in BMI before the AR (slope), and sharper rebound growth in BMI after the rebound (quadratic term). For boys and girls, higher intercept, slope, and quadratic term values predicted higher CVD risk at the age of 15 years, controlling for characteristics of the AR.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that individuals at risk for developing CVD later in life may be identified before the AR by elevated BMI at 15 months and slow BMI declines. Because of the importance of early intervention in altering lifelong health trajectories, consistent BMI monitoring is essential in identifying high-risk children.
Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas. Electronic address: brittany.boyer@utdallas.edu.
Brittany P
BP
Boyer
Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas.
Jackie A
JA
Nelson
Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas.
Shayla C
SC
Holub
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D057238:Growth Charts; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
Adiposity rebound; Adolescence; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease