Identifying Key Predictors of Mid-Childhood Obesity in a Population-Based Cohort Study: An Evidence Synthesis and...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics and Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Childhood Obesity Research

Background:

• Childhood overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns with numerous identified predictors.
• A quantitative overview and understanding of the relative importance of these multidisciplinary predictors are lacking.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated the collective contribution of various factors to childhood obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a quantitative overview of multidisciplinary predictors of childhood body mass index (BMI).
• To identify key predictors and build predictive models for childhood overweight and obesity.
• To determine the relative importance and collective contribution of predictors to childhood BMI.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized evidence from 93 studies within the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort.
• Quantitatively overviewed 210 predictors across preconception and childhood, selecting 59 candidate predictors.
• Utilized model search algorithms to identify 32 key predictors and built prediction models.

Main Results:

• Parental pre-pregnancy BMI (maternal and paternal), early-life weight (zBMI at age 2), and food responsiveness were positively associated with mid-childhood BMI.
• Satiety responsiveness was negatively associated with mid-childhood BMI.
• Key predictors collectively accounted for 49.2% of BMI variance and 33.7% of overweight/obesity odds at age 10.

Conclusions:

• Multimodal interventions targeting parental BMI before pregnancy, early adiposity rebound, and appetite management in early childhood are recommended.
• These interventions may be most effective for maintaining a healthy weight during childhood.
• Understanding the interplay of preconception, prenatal, and early childhood factors is vital for obesity prevention.