BMI Trajectories from Birth to 23 Years by Cardiometabolic Risks in Young Adulthood

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the level, rate, and acceleration of BMI growth differ according to the presence or absence of adult cardiometabolic (CM) risks.

BMI was measured in 1,000 Chileans at nine time points from birth to 23 years, and metabolic syndrome and its components were assessed at young adulthood. BMI growth was analyzed in the following three developmental periods: birth to 6 months, 6 months to 5 years, and 5 to 23 years.

Individuals with CM risks had a specific constellation of early-life growth (faster growth after infancy, lower BMI decline approaching age 5, absence of a definitive BMI nadir in early childhood, higher 5-year BMI) and distinct young adult growth (larger BMI increases from childhood to young adulthood and lower levels of expected growth deceleration approaching young adulthood). Those with CM risks also attained BMI ≥ 25 at significantly younger ages than those absent risks (metabolic syndrome: 12.3 years vs. 20.1 years; hyperglycemia: 13.1 years vs. 18.9 years; hypertension: 13.2 years vs. 19.4 years; hypertriglyceridemia: 14.3 years vs. 19.5 years; inflammation: 15.9 years vs. 20.6 years).

Larger and faster increases in BMI and a failure of BMI growth to decline or decelerate at specific developmental periods distinguished individuals who would and would not have adult CM risks.