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Effect of Sibling Birth on BMI Trajectory in the First 6 Years of Life

Rana H Mosli1, Niko Kaciroti2, Robert F Corwyn3

  • 1Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA; Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, aimuwseli@kau.edu.sa.

Pediatrics
|March 13, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The birth of a sibling between 24 and 54 months of age is linked to a healthier body mass index z-score (BMIz) trajectory in children. This finding suggests potential interventions for childhood obesity prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Child Development
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding factors influencing body mass index z-score (BMIz) trajectory is crucial for early intervention.
  • The impact of sibling birth on early childhood BMIz is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the longitudinal association between the birth of a sibling and changes in BMIz trajectory during the first six years of life.
  • To determine if the timing of sibling birth influences a child's BMIz trajectory.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 697 children was followed from birth across 10 US sites.
  • Sibship composition was tracked every 3 months, with anthropometry assessed at multiple time points up to first grade.
  • Piecewise quadratic regression models adjusted for confounders analyzed the association between sibling birth and BMIz trajectory.

Main Results:

  • Children experiencing a sibling's birth between 24-36 months or 36-54 months showed a lower subsequent BMIz trajectory.
  • These children had significantly lower BMIz at first grade compared to those without a sibling born by first grade.
  • Not having a sibling born by first grade increased the odds of obesity at first grade by 2.94 times.

Conclusions:

  • Sibling birth between 24 and 54 months of age is associated with a healthier BMIz trajectory.
  • This association may offer insights for developing targeted intervention programs for childhood obesity.
  • Further research into the mechanisms underlying this association is warranted.
Abstract

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