Regional and sociodemographic differences in average BMI among US children in the ECHO program

Area of Science:

• Pediatric health
• Public health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
• Understanding factors influencing child Body Mass Index (BMI) is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Regional variations in child BMI may reflect underlying socioeconomic and environmental differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between individual characteristics (sex, race/ethnicity, birth weight, maternal education) and child BMI.
• To investigate variations in child BMI across different US Census regions.
• To determine if regional differences in child BMI persist after adjusting for individual-level factors.

Main Methods:

• Pooled data from 25 prospective cohort studies were analyzed.
• Child BMI z scores were calculated using age- and sex-specific data.
• Region of residence was categorized into US Census regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, West).

Main Results:

• Significant regional variations in child BMI z scores were observed.
• Males had lower BMI z scores than females in the Midwest and West.
• Higher BMI z scores were noted in Hispanic and Black children compared to non-Hispanic White children, though not uniformly across all regions.
• The Midwest showed higher average BMI z scores, while the South and West showed lower scores compared to the Northeast, after adjustments.

Conclusions:

• Region of residence is independently associated with child BMI z scores.
• Sociodemographic characteristics do not fully explain regional disparities in child BMI.
• Understanding regional influences is vital for developing targeted strategies to reduce child BMI-related health inequities.