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Early clinical markers of overweight/obesity onset and resolution by adolescence

International Journal of Obesity volume 44, pages 82–93 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

We examined how combinations of clinical indicators at various ages predict overweight/obesity development, as well as resolution, by 10–11 and 14–15 years of age.

Methods

Data were derived from Birth (N = 3469) and Kinder (N = 3276) cohorts of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, followed from ages 2–3 and 4–5 years, respectively. Every two years, 25 potential obesity-relevant clinical indicators were quantified. Overweight/obesity was defined using International Obesity Taskforce cutpoints at 10–11 years and 14–15 years.

Results

In both cohorts, three factors predicted both development and resolution of overweight/obesity in multivariable models. Among normal weight children, increased odds of developing overweight/obesity were associated with higher child (odd ratio (OR) 1.67–3.35 across different study waves) and maternal (OR 1.05–1.09) BMI, and inversely with higher maternal education (OR 0.60–0.62, when assessed at age 2–7 years). Lower odds of resolving existing overweight/obesity were related with higher child (OR 0.51–0.79) and maternal (OR 0.89–0.95) BMI, and inversely with higher maternal education (OR 1.62–1.92, when assessed at age 2–5 years). The prevalence of overweight/obesity at the age of 14–15 years was 13% among children with none of these risk factors at age 6–7 years, compared with 71% among those with all 3 risk factors (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

From early childhood onwards, child and maternal BMI and maternal education predict overweight/obesity onset and resolution by adolescence. A simple risk score, easily available to child health clinicians, could help target treatment or prevention.

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Funding

Prof. MJ was supported by Juho Vainio Foundation and federal research grants to Turku University Hospital. Prof. MW was supported by NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship 1046518 and Cure Kids New Zealand. Dr Magnussen is supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Future Leader Fellowship (100849). Prof. DB is supported by NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship 1064629 and an Honorary Future Leader Fellowship of the National Heart Foundation of Australia (100369). Dr KL was supported by NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (1091124) and Honorary National Heart Foundation of Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship (101239). Research at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute research is supported by the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Program. The funding bodies did not play any role in the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Markus Juonala

  2. Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Markus Juonala

  3. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Markus Juonala, Ted Lau, Melissa Wake, Anneke Grobler, Jessica A. Kerr, Matthew A. Sabin, David P. Burgner & Kate Lycett

  4. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Ted Lau, Melissa Wake, Anneke Grobler, Jessica A. Kerr, Matthew A. Sabin, David P. Burgner & Kate Lycett

  5. Department of Paediatrics and the Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Melissa Wake

  6. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Costan G. Magnussen

  7. Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Costan G. Magnussen

  8. The Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Matthew A. Sabin & David P. Burgner

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  1. Markus Juonala
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Correspondence to Markus Juonala.

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Juonala, M., Lau, T., Wake, M. et al. Early clinical markers of overweight/obesity onset and resolution by adolescence. Int J Obes 44, 82–93 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-019-0457-2

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