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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
The association between indoor temperature and body mass index in children: the PIAMA birth cohort study
Floor R Scheffers, Marga B M Bekkers, Marjan Kerkhof
1National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services (pb 101), PO Box 1, Bilthoven 3720, BA, the Netherlands. alet.wijga@rivm.nl.
Insights
This study found no link between indoor temperatures and children's body mass index (BMI). Researchers examined children's body weight and home temperatures over 11 years, finding no significant association for healthy weight development.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Experimental studies suggest higher ambient temperatures decrease energy expenditure.
- A potential link between thermal exposure and body weight is hypothesized.
- The effect of thermal exposure on body weight, particularly indoor temperatures, remains understudied in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between indoor temperature and body mass index (BMI) in children.
- To examine this relationship in a real-life setting using a large birth cohort.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal observational study of 3,963 children from the PIAMA birth cohort (1996-2007).
- Indoor temperatures (living room, bedroom) were reported at baseline; BMI z-scores were collected from 3 months to 11 years.
- Generalized estimating equations (GEE) analyzed associations, adjusted for confounders and stratified by gender. Bedroom temperature was also measured in a subgroup.
Main Results:
- Mean reported living room and bedroom temperatures were 20.3°C and 17.4°C, respectively.
- Reported and measured bedroom temperatures showed a positive correlation (r = 0.42, p = 0.001).
- No significant associations were found between reported or measured indoor temperatures and BMI z-scores throughout childhood.
Conclusions:
- The study did not support the hypothesis that indoor temperature is associated with BMI in children.
- Findings suggest that typical indoor temperature variations do not significantly impact children's body mass index in real-life settings.
Background:
Several experimental studies showed consistent evidence for decreased energy expenditure at higher ambient temperatures. Based on this, an association between thermal exposure and body weight may be expected. However, the effect of thermal exposure on body weight has hardly been studied. Therefore, this study investigated the association between indoor temperature and body mass index (BMI) in children in real life.
Methods:
This longitudinal observational study included 3 963 children from the Dutch Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort that started in 1996. These children were followed from birth until the age of 11 years. Winter indoor temperature (living room and bedroom) was reported at baseline and BMI z-scores were available at 10 consecutive ages. Missing data were multiply imputed. Associations between indoor temperature and BMI were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE), adjusted for confounders and stratified by gender. In a subgroup of 104 children, bedroom temperature was also measured with data loggers.
Results:
Mean reported living room and bedroom temperature were 20.3°C and 17.4°C, respectively. Reported and measured bedroom temperatures were positively correlated (r = 0.42, p = 0.001).Neither reported living room temperature (-0.03 ≤ β ≥ 0.04) and bedroom temperature (-0.01 ≤ β ≥ 0.02) nor measured bedroom temperature (-0.04 ≤ β ≥ 0.05) were associated with BMI z-score between the age of 3 months and 11 years.
Conclusions:
This study in children did not support the hypothesized association between indoor temperature and BMI in a real life setting.
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