Parenthood linked to new onset overweight or obesity among Chilean adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether early parenthood is associated with the onset of overweight/obesity during adolescence.


METHODS
Weight status changes between ages 16 and 21 years were measured in 270 Chilean youths. Parenthood by age 21 was assessed by interview.


RESULTS
Sixty-three youths became overweight/obese between ages 16 and 21 years (23%), and 24% (n=65) of the total sample were parents by age 21. Bearing a child by age 21 was associated with a two-fold risk of becoming newly overweight or obese (OR=2.6, CI: 1.1, 5.9, p<0.05). Earlier internalizing problems were also associated with the development of overweight/obesity in young mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight status changes from normal to overweight or obese were more likely to occur among young parents than non-parents. This has implications for adolescents' future health given their likelihood of having subsequent pregnancies and the known risks of increased weight at each pregnancy.
July
J
Lee
Patricia
P
East
Estela
E
Blanco
Eastern
E
Kang-Sim
Marcela
M
Castillo
Betsy
B
Lozoff
Sheila
S
Gahagan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005220:Fathers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D010290:Parents; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult