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Predictive associations between alternative measures of childhood adiposity and adult cardio-metabolic health

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 38–45 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To estimate associations between alternative measures of childhood adiposity and indicators of cardio-metabolic health in adulthood, both unadjusted and adjusted for changes in adiposity from childhood to adulthood.

Design and Methods:

The study consisted of a 20-year follow-up of 2188 adults who had participated in the 1985 Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey when they were between 7 and 15 years of age. Baseline and follow-up measures of body composition included height and weight, waist and hip circumferences and skinfold thicknesses at four sites. At follow-up, participants attended study clinics where component indicators of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) (waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipids) were measured.

Results:

Waist circumference and skinfold measures were the strongest predictors of subsequent MetS (2009 Joint Scientific Statement definition) in early adulthood. For example, relative risks (RRs) for children in the highest (vs lowest) quarter of waist circumference were 4.8 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5–9.2) for males and 5.8 (95% CI: 2.4–14.2) for females. After adjusting for change in waist circumference from childhood to adulthood, each 10 cm increase in childhood waist circumference was associated with an approximate twofold increase in risk for adult MetS (RR=2.1 (95% CI: 1.7–2.7) among males and RR=2.3 (95% CI: 1.6–3.4) among females).

Conclusion:

Elevated waist circumference and skinfold thickness measures in childhood appear to be the strongest predictors of subsequent MetS in early adulthood. The increased risk associated with higher waist circumference in childhood appears to be independent of changes in waist circumference from childhood to adulthood.

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Acknowledgements

The Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study was funded by grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian National Heart Foundation, the Tasmanian Community Fund and Veolia Environmental Services. Financial support was also provided by Sanitarium Health Food Company, ASICS Oceania and Target Australia. Dr Schmidt was supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia postdoctoral fellowship. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study's project manager, Marita Dalton, all other project staff and volunteers, and the study participants. Drs Obioha Ukoumunne and Russell Thomson provided valuable statistical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    M D Schmidt

  2. Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

    M D Schmidt, C G Magnussen & A J Venn

  3. Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia

    T Dwyer & C G Magnussen

  4. Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    C G Magnussen

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  1. M D Schmidt
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  2. T Dwyer
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  3. C G Magnussen
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  4. A J Venn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M D Schmidt.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on International Journal of Obesity website

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Schmidt, M., Dwyer, T., Magnussen, C. et al. Predictive associations between alternative measures of childhood adiposity and adult cardio-metabolic health. Int J Obes 35, 38–45 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2010.205

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