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The Growth Curves of Northwest American Indian Children Indicate Early Rapid Weight Gain, a Risk Factor for Later Obesity
Author(s) -
Eckhardt Cara Louise,
Lutz Tam,
Karanja Njeri,
Smith Nicole,
Aickin Mikel,
Ritenbaugh Cheryl
Publication year - 2011
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.25.1_supplement.215.5
Subject(s) - percentile , obesity , medicine , demography , linear growth , weight gain , growth curve (statistics) , body mass index , pediatrics , childhood obesity , growth chart , neglect , overweight , gerontology , body weight , mathematics , statistics , endocrinology , sociology , nursing
The childhood obesity epidemic is pronounced among minority groups, including American Indians (AI). AI are underrepresented in the literature and the statistics reported are usually simple prevalence data. This study modeled weight growth curves in a variety of Northwest AI tribes among children aged 0–36 months. State WIC program data collected from 2003–2007 were used to construct sex‐specific growth curves with interpretable parameters. In this model, weight=C+S*m+A*(1−exp(−R*m)), where m is age in months, C is birth weight, S is an indicator of post 2‐years linear weight growth (“linear” refers to the shape of the curve), A is an indicator of early growth spurt, and R is the rate at which maximum excessive growth is reached. Results show consistent early rapid weight gain. Birth weights in the AI children tended to be close to the CDC 50 th percentiles, however median weights reached well above the 50 th percentile, and in many cases approached the 90 th percentile by 6–9 months of age, and remained elevated through 3 years of age. Given this early pattern of rapid growth and its implications for later obesity, interventions aimed at preventing childhood obesity in AI populations should not neglect the perinatal and infancy periods. Research Support: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant U01HL081624; National Institute of Child Health and Development grant R01HD058061‐Administrative Supplement