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Related Experiment Videos

Does childhood obesity track into adulthood?

W R Clarke1, R M Lauer

  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
|January 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Childhood obesity often persists into adulthood, with most obese children becoming obese adults. However, some children

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Area of Science:

  • Pediatric health and nutrition
  • Longitudinal growth studies
  • Obesity epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern with potential long-term consequences.
  • Understanding the trajectory of weight-related measures from childhood to adulthood is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the tracking of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) from childhood into young adulthood.
  • To determine the proportion of children in higher weight categories who remain in higher categories as adults.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 2631 schoolchildren (ages 9-18) surveyed biennially from 1971-1981.
  • Follow-up measurements near ages 23, 28, and 33.
  • Analysis of tracking correlations and quintile stability for height, weight, BMI, and TSF.

Main Results:

  • Tracking correlations for height, weight, BMI, and TSF ranged from 0.26 to 0.97, indicating significant stability of these measures over time.
  • 49-70% of children in the upper weight quintile and 48-75% in the upper BMI quintile remained in the upper quintile as adults.
  • While the majority of obese children became obese adults, approximately 31% of children in the upper BMI quintile became adults with lower levels, and a similar proportion of lean children became obese adults.

Conclusions:

  • Weight-related measures like BMI and weight demonstrate significant tracking from childhood through young adulthood.
  • Obesity acquired in childhood and adolescence often persists into adulthood, highlighting the critical window for preventive measures.
  • Individual variability exists, with some children experiencing significant shifts in weight status, underscoring the need for further research into contributing factors.

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