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Pediatric obesity in the United States: Age-period-cohort analysis

Ashley W Kranjac1,2, Dinko Kranjac3,4, Roxanne I Aguilera1,2

  • 1Department of Sociology, Wilkinson College, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA.

Heliyon
|August 26, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity rates are at a historic high. Environmental factors, not generational differences, are driving increases in preschooler body mass index z-scores (zBMI).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Public Health
  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Biostatistics

Background:

  • Childhood obesity in the U.S. among 2-5 year olds has reached unprecedented levels.
  • Early childhood represents a critical period for obesity prevention and future health outcomes.
  • Identifying drivers of obesity prevalence is essential for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the distribution of body mass index z-scores (zBMI) in U.S. preschoolers (2-5 years) from 1999-2018.
  • To differentiate the contributions of age, period, and cohort effects on zBMI trends.
  • To inform strategies for childhood obesity prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.
  • Employed hierarchical age-period-cohort (APC) analysis.
  • Examined age- and sex-specific zBMI distributions.

Main Results:

  • Period effects were the primary drivers of observed zBMI changes, not cohort effects.
  • Environmental and societal factors influencing all age groups appear most impactful.
  • Significant trends in zBMI were observed across the study period.

Conclusions:

  • Current obesogenic environments significantly impact preschoolers across generations.
  • Broad socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental strategies are needed for population-wide obesity reduction.
  • Interventions must address current environmental influences to effectively prevent childhood obesity.

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