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A longitudinal study tracking children on BMI‐for‐age growth charts
Author(s) -
Hoerr Sharon Lynn Marshall,
McFadden Christina Mincy,
Haubnestricker John,
Wisner David M
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a590-b
Subject(s) - percentile , overweight , underweight , demography , medicine , obesity , longitudinal study , age groups , pediatrics , statistics , mathematics , sociology , pathology
The objective was to identify the extent to which obesity, overweight (OW) and change in growth channels from ages 6–18 years predicted OW and overfat (OF) status at 18yr. Biannual longitudinal growth measurements for 354 children from ages 6–18yr participating in MSU’s Motor Performance Study were plotted on the BMI‐for‐age growth charts. Comparisons of BMI‐for‐age percentiles were made at ages 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18yr between the study sample and NHANESI, II, III. Risk for overweight at 18yr was predicted from the number of growth channels subjects lie within during growth from ages 6–18 yr. Most children (97%) fluctuated among major percentile growth channels and the majority fell within 3–4 channels. Those within 4+ channels were 4.5 times more likely to be at risk for overweight (AROW) or OW at age 16–18yr compared to those whose growth fell within fewer channels. Subjects AROW or OW at ages 6, 9, 12, or 15yr were more likely to be so at their last age than those who were underweight or normal weight at these ages. Because variations among ≤3 percentile channels along the BMI‐for‐age growth charts did not clearly identify children at risk for AROW or OW, modest variation in growth along the BMI‐for‐age growth charts might not be a good indicator of risk for OW in youth. The number of channels a child’s BMI‐for‐age percentiles lie within during growth does give some indication of risk, when the number of channel crossings exceeds four.