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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Identifying the "tipping point" age for overweight pediatric patients
John W Harrington1, Vu Q Nguyen, James F Paulson
1Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA. John.Harrington@chkd.org
Clinical Pediatrics
|February 13, 2010
Summary
Early intervention is key for preventing childhood obesity. This study found that the critical period for intervention is within the first two years of life, with many cases developing by three months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern in America, with nearly half of children being overweight or obese.
- The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007) highlights the prevalence of this issue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the critical period for the onset of overweight and obesity in children.
- To determine the age at which children become overweight or obese and the rate of weight gain.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 184 patients aged 2-20 years.
- Inclusion criteria: diagnostic codes for overweight/obesity, minimum 5 visits with weight/height, BMI at or above the 85th percentile.
Main Results:
- Over half of the children studied became overweight before age 2.
- All patients were overweight or obese by age 10.
- The average rate of excess Body Mass Index (BMI) gain was approximately 1 unit per year, leading to overweight status by age 2.
Conclusions:
- The first two years of life represent a critical window for preventing childhood obesity.
- Intervention may be necessary as early as 3 months of age for many children to prevent long-term weight issues.
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