Pacific Islands Families Study: Physical growth to age 14 and metabolic risk

The relationships between the trajectories of weight gain from early childhood to adolescence and risk for metabolic disease are not well understood.

The objective of the study is to examine the relationships between weight gain from 2 to 14 years and metabolic risk factors at age 14 years in Pacific Island children.

z scores for weight were calculated at each of the ages 2.5, 4, 6, 9, 11, and 13.5 years in 1053 children. Growth trajectories were determined by estimating the linear trend of z scores with age for each child. In a subgroup of 204 children, biomarkers of metabolic risk were measured and related to linear trend intercepts and slopes.

More rapid growth (greater slope of z score trajectory) was associated with higher concentrations of insulin, leptin (boys), urate, and markers of liver function, insulin resistance and inflammation. Children with higher weights in early life (greater intercept) showed fewer associations with metabolic markers, but considered together, intercept and slope were independently associated with a range of metabolic risk factors.

Both rapid weight gain and a higher body weight in early childhood were associated with higher risk for metabolic disease. Monitoring growth trajectories may help target interventions to optimize nutrition, physical activity, and growth.