Adverse Childhood Experiences and Weight Status among Adolescents

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics 2019-01, Vol.204, p.71-76.e1
• Main Authors: Davis, Laurel, Barnes, Andrew J., Gross, Amy C., Ryder, Justin R., Shlafer, Rebecca J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; adverse childhood experiences; Adverse Childhood Experiences - statistics & numerical data; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Minnesota; obesity; overweight; Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology; Pediatric Obesity - etiology; Risk Factors; severe obesity; Students
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.08.071

To investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and weight status among adolescents. Data were drawn from the Minnesota Student Survey, a large (n = 105 759), statewide, anonymous survey of public school students in eighth, ninth, and eleventh grades. Self-reported height and weight were used to calculate body mass index. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine associations between self-reported ACEs and weight status, controlling for key sociodemographic characteristics. ACEs were positively associated with weight status; adolescents with more ACEs were more likely to have overweight, obesity, and severe obesity than adolescents with no ACEs. Adolescents who reported an ACE were 1.2, 1.4, and 1.5 times as likely to have overweight, obesity, and severe obesity, respectively, compared with their peers with no ACEs. There was no relationship between ACEs and underweight. The results of this large sample of adolescents with anonymous data support the hypothesis that ACEs and obesity are strongly associated. The directionality of this relationship needs to be understood. Moreover, these findings suggest that child health professionals may need to screen for ACEs as an important aspect of clinical weight management.