The association between early childhood stunting and weight status in late adolescence

Cross-sectional studies have shown associations between stunting and overweight; however, there are few prospective studies of stunted children.

To determine whether stunting before age 2 years is associated with overweight and central adiposity at 17-18 years and whether growth in height among stunted children predicts body mass index (BMI) in late adolescence.

Prospective cohort study.

One-hundred and three participants stunted by age 2 years and 64 non-stunted participants (78% of participants enrolled in childhood). Participants were measured in early childhood and at ages 7, 11 and 17 years.

Stunted subjects remained shorter and had lower BMIs, smaller skinfolds and circumferences than non-stunted subjects. Overweight (BMI >/=25 m(2)) was not significantly different among stunted and non-stunted male subjects (5.2 and 12.5%) but non-stunted female subjects were more likely to be overweight than those who experienced early childhood stunting (11.1 and 34.4%, P=0.013). Centralization of fat (waist to hip ratio (WHR), subscapular/triceps skinfold ratio (SSF/TSF)) did not differ between stunted and non-stunted groups (mean WHR 0.77 and mean SSF/TSF 1.18 in both groups). Stunted subjects with greater increases in height-for-age for the intervals 3-7 and 7-11 years had higher BMI at age 17 years (P=0.04 and P=0.001, respectively).

Participants stunted by age 2 years were less likely to be overweight than those who were never stunted. This suggests that cross-sectional studies of the association between stunting and overweight may be misleading. Among stunted children, greater linear growth during mid- to late childhood was associated with greater BMI at age 17 years.