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Risk factors for childhood overweight: a prospective study from birth to 9.5 years

W Stewart Agras1, Lawrence D Hammer, Fiona McNicholas

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5733, USA. sagras@stanford.edu

The Journal of Pediatrics
|July 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Parental overweight and child temperament are key factors in childhood overweight development. Other risks include low parental concern, food tantrums, and less sleep, suggesting intervention opportunities.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Development
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood overweight is a growing public health concern.
  • Identifying early risk factors is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify risk factors for childhood overweight at 9.5 years of age.
  • To understand the interplay between parental and child characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 150 children from birth to 9.5 years.
  • Assessed multiple hypothesized risk factors based on existing research.

Main Results:

  • Five independent risk factors identified: parental overweight (strongest, mediated by child temperament), low parental concern about child's thinness, persistent food tantrums, and reduced sleep time.
  • Two distinct pathways to overweight/obesity identified, influenced by parental overweight severity.

Conclusions:

  • Significant interaction between parental and child factors in overweight development.
  • Identified risk factors are potentially modifiable, supporting early intervention programs.
Abstract

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