Relationship between early puberty and the risk of hypertension/overweight at age 50: Evidence for a modified Barker hypothesis among Polish youth

The objective of this paper is to evaluate: (a) the association between BMI in childhood and adolescence and BMI at age 50, and (b) the association between timing of maturation at puberty and BMI at age 50 and the occurrence of high blood pressure. We explore whether differences in somatic and physi...

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Published in:Economics and human biology 2007-03, Vol.5 (1), p.48-60
Main Authors: Hulanicka, Barbara, Lipowicz, Anna, Kozieł, Sławomir, Kowalisko, Alicja
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescence
Adolescent
Adult
Barker hypothesis
Blood pressure
BMI
Body Height
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Cardiovascular health
Child
CVD
Early maturers
Female
Health
Humans
Hypertension
Hypertension - epidemiology
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Overweight
Poland
Poland - epidemiology
Puberty
Puberty, Delayed - physiopathology
Puberty, Precocious - physiopathology
Risk
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Summary:The objective of this paper is to evaluate: (a) the association between BMI in childhood and adolescence and BMI at age 50, and (b) the association between timing of maturation at puberty and BMI at age 50 and the occurrence of high blood pressure. We explore whether differences in somatic and physiological factors observed among children with early or late onset of puberty indicates that this period of life could be critical for appearance of some CVD risk factors later in the life cycle. Our data include 135 males and 148 females, born in 1953, participants in the Wrocław Longitudinal Study. Data pertaining to their growth and several indices of sexual and skeletal maturation were collected yearly between age 8 and 18. Subsequently, their anthropometric traits were measured and cardiovascular health status was assessed at age 50. We find that BMI at distinct stages in the life cycle were positively correlated. Also BMI at 50 were positively associated with blood pressure at 50. Moreover, earlier maturation at puberty is associated with higher values of BMI at age 50. We also find that earlier pubertal maturation is an independent factor that influences the appearance of high blood pressure in adulthood.
ISSN:1570-677X
1873-6130
DOI:10.1016/j.ehb.2006.12.001