Birth weight and weight, stature, and body mass index at ages 6 and 14 years

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Growth and Development
• Human Physiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Birth weight is a critical early life factor influencing child development.
• Understanding long-term growth trajectories is essential for identifying potential health risks.
• Previous research indicates correlations between birth weight and later anthropometric measures, but the strength and persistence of these associations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between birth weight and anthropometric measurements (weight, stature, Body Mass Index) at ages 6 and 14 years.
• To determine the predictive value of birth weight for childhood and adolescent Body Mass Index.
• To examine the influence of maternal and familial factors on these associations.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study of 1,115 schoolchildren in Jerusalem.
• Analysis of correlations between birth weight and anthropometric data at ages 6 and 14.
• Use of analysis of covariance to control for confounding variables.
• Calculation of positive predictive values for Body Mass Index quartiles.

Main Results:

• Low correlations were observed between birth weight and weight, stature, and Body Mass Index (BMI) at ages 6 and 14 years, decreasing with age.
• Positive predictive values for the highest BMI quartile were modest (around 30%), with slightly higher values for girls, especially menstruating girls.
• Birth weight was consistently associated with weight, stature, and BMI, independent of maternal origin, education, age, or family size.
• Explained variance was low and decreased with age, being higher for stature than weight, and particularly low for BMI.

Conclusions:

• Birth weight has a limited but consistent association with weight, stature, and BMI throughout childhood and adolescence.
• The predictive power of birth weight for later Body Mass Index is low, suggesting other factors play a more significant role.
• Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay of factors influencing long-term growth and Body Mass Index development.