Paper
International Journal of Obesity (2005) 29, 1055–1062. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802998; published online 24 May 2005
Weight history from birth through childhood and youth in relation to adult lung function, in Danish juvenile obese and non-obese men
J Bua1, E Prescott1,2, L Schack-Nielsen1,3, L Petersen1, N S Godtfredsen1, T I A Sørensen1,2 and M Osler4
- 1Danish Epidemiology Science Center, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Kommunehospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2Copenhagen City Heart Study, Bispebjerg University Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen, Denmark
- 3Institute of Human Nutrition, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- 4Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
Correspondence: Dr J Bua, Danish Epidemiology Science Center, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Kommunehospitalet, Øster Søgade 18, Copenhagen DK-1399, Denmark. E-mail: jbua@ipm.hosp.dk
Received 15 July 2004; Revised 17 February 2005; Accepted 17 March 2005; Published online 10 May 2005.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the associations of birth weight, body mass index (BMI) during childhood and youth, and current BMI with adult lung function.
DESIGN:
Population-based longitudinal study of juvenile obese and non-obese men, who were identified at draft board examination (age range: 19–27 y) and who participated in a follow-up examination in 1981–1983 (age range: 25–48 y). Birth weight, childhood weight and height measurements from 7 to 13 y of age were obtained from school health records. Current BMI and lung function were assessed at follow-up.
SETTING:
Copenhagen and adjacent regions, Denmark.
SUBJECTS:
In total, 193 juvenile obese men at draft board examination and 205 randomly selected nonobese controls from the same population.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Lung function measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), adjusted for age and height.
RESULTS:
After adjusting for current BMI, smoking and education, birth weight was positively related to FEV1, although only with borderline statistical significance. BMI at age 7 y was positively associated with both FEV1 and FVC, whereas BMI at later ages in childhood and in youth was not associated with these measures. There was a strong negative linear relation between current BMI and lung function among those currently overweight and obese (BMI 25 kg/m2), whereas no association was seen in the non-obese (BMI <25 kg/m2).
CONCLUSION:
Our findings confirm the detrimental effect of high current BMI on adult lung function, and further suggest that early childhood growth has a protective influence.
Keywords:
adult lung function, birth weight, body mass index, life course
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