The Terneuzen Birth Cohort: BMI change between 2 and 6 years is most predictive of adult cardiometabolic risk

• Published in: PloS one 2010-11, Vol.5 (11), p.e13966-e13966
• Main Authors: de Kroon, Marlou L A, Renders, Carry M, van Wouwe, Jacobus P, van Buuren, Stef, Hirasing, Remy A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Age; Age Factors; Birth Weight - physiology; Blood; Blood cholesterol; Blood glucose; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - physiology; Blood tests; Body Composition - physiology; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Body weight; Body Weight - physiology; Breastfeeding & lactation; Child; Child development; Child, Preschool; Children; Cholesterol; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Data processing; Diabetes; Diabetes and Endocrinology/Obesity; Female; Gender differences; Health risks; Health services; High density lipoprotein; Humans; Hypotheses; Linear Models; Male; Medical research; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; Metabolism; Netherlands; Obesity; Occupational health; Overweight; Pediatrics and Child Health/Child Development; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Proteins; Public Health and Epidemiology/Preventive Medicine; Quality of life; Regression analysis; Regression models; Risk; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Skinfold Thickness; Studies; Target marketing; Trajectory analysis; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013966

We recently reported the age interval 2-6y being the earliest and most critical for adult overweight. We now aim to determine which age intervals are predictive of cardiometabolic risk at young adulthood. We analyzed data from 642 18-28 years olds from the Terneuzen Birth Cohort. Individual BMI SDS trajectories were fitted by a piecewise linear model. By multiple regression analyses relationships were assessed between subsequent conditional BMI SDS changes and components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), skinfold thickness and hsCRP at young adulthood. Results were adjusted for gender and age, and other confounders. Gender was studied as an effect modifier. All BMI SDS changes throughout childhood were related to waist circumference and skinfold thickness. No other significant relationship was found before the age of 2 years, except between the BMI SDS change 0-1y and hsCRP. Fasting blood glucose was not predicted by any BMI SDS change. BMI SDS change 2-6y was strongly related to most outcome variables, especially to waist circumference (ß 0.47, SE 0.02), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (ß 0.20 SE 0.04 and ß 0.19 SE 0.03), and hsCRP (ß 0.16 SE 0.04). The BMI SDS change 10-18y was most strongly related to HDL cholesterol (ß -0.10, SE 0.03), and triglycerides (ß 0.21, SE 0.03). To a lesser degree, the BMI SDS change 6-10y was related to most outcome variables. BMI SDS changes 2-6y and 10-18y were significantly related to MetS: the OR was respectively 3.39 (95%CI 2.33-4.94) and 2.84 (95%CI 1.94-4.15). BMI SDS changes from 2y onwards were related to cardiometabolic risk at young adulthood, the age interval 2-6y being the most predictive. Monitoring and stabilizing the BMI SDS of children as young as 2-6y may not only reverse the progression towards adult overweight, but it may also safeguard cardiometabolic status.