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BMI Trajectories from Birth to Young Adulthood.
Shannon M McGinty1,2, Stavroula K Osganian3, Henry A Feldman4
1Harvard University Health Services, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|April 21, 2018
Summary
Youth with severe obesity experience higher BMIs and faster weight gain starting at age 14 compared to those without severe obesity. Their BMI increase peaks later and never stabilizes, unlike their peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Obesity Medicine
- Growth and Development Studies
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern with long-term implications.
- Understanding BMI trajectories is crucial for effective weight management strategies.
- Severe obesity in youth requires specific attention due to potentially different progression patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare Body Mass Index (BMI) trajectories from childhood to early adulthood.
- To differentiate BMI progression in youth with overweight/obesity versus those with severe obesity.
- To identify key differences in BMI slope, peak, and stabilization between groups.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of 2,542 BMI measurements from 103 participants (children to young adults).
- Participants categorized into groups based on the presence of severe obesity.
- Segmented regression with splines used to model BMI trajectories and slopes.
Main Results:
- Participants with severe obesity had higher BMIs across all ages compared to those without.
- BMI slope increased significantly starting at age 14 in the severe obesity group (P=0.002).
- The severe obesity group experienced a later peak BMI (18 vs. 16 years) and a higher peak slope (4.5 vs. 2.9 kg/m²/y).
Conclusions:
- Youth with severe obesity exhibit distinct BMI trajectories characterized by higher starting BMIs and accelerated increases from adolescence.
- The rate of BMI increase in severe obesity is more rapid, peaks later, and persists longer.
- Unlike peers, individuals with severe obesity do not achieve BMI stabilization in early adulthood.
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