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Impact of Life Events on Short‐Term Change in BMI in Early and Middle Childhood
Author(s) -
Weber Zachary A.,
Shoben Abigail,
Anderson Sarah E.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.22716
Subject(s) - quartile , medicine , demography , obesity , childhood obesity , weight change , early childhood , body mass index , pediatrics , overweight , psychology , weight loss , confidence interval , developmental psychology , sociology
Objective The accumulation of adverse events in childhood is linked to obesity, although the short‐term (1 to 2 years) dynamics of weight change during life events has not been investigated. Methods In the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, mothers reported life events in the past year when their children were 54 months, 9 years, and 11 years old. Children's height and weight were measured, and BMI‐for‐age z scores were calculated at 36 and 54 months and at 7, 9, 10, and 11 years. The estimated 1‐ and 2‐year change in BMI z score of being in the highest quartile of negative and total life events was modeled using linear regression accounting for repeated measures. Results Analyses included 1,074 children. The highest quartile of negative life events was not statistically associated with BMI z score change at 2 years compared with those below the highest quartile (estimate: 0.069, 95% CI: −0.006, 0.144). Similarly, the highest quartile of total events was not related to BMI z score change (estimate: 0.029, 95% CI: −0.054, 0.114). The developmental period of the child did not moderate the association. Conclusions No significant change in BMI z score was observed in 1 to 2 years for children experiencing many life events.