Age at adiposity rebound in childhood is associated with PCOS diagnosis and obesity in adulthood\u2014longitudinal analysis of BMI data from birth to age 46 in cases of PCOS

E Koivuaho,S Sebert,J Kettunen,J Laru,T T Piltonen,M Ojaniemi,S Franks,L Morin-Papunen,M.-R Järvelin,K Puukka,J S Tapanainen

doi:10.1038/s41366-019-0318-z

Abstract

Background:Adiposity rebound (AR), the second BMI rise in childhood at around the age of 6 years, is associated with obesity and metabolic alteration in later life. Given that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has a strong metabolic component, early life growth patterns could reveal a risk of PCOS. Thus, we aimed to investigate the associations between age at AR and PCOS diagnosis and BMI later in life.Materials and methods:This study is part of a prospective, population-based longitudinal study, where women with PCOS diagnosis by age 46 (n = 280) were compared with asymptomatic women (CTRLs, n = 1573). Weight and height data from birth to age 13 years, at age at menarche, and at ages 31 and 46 years were analyzedResults:Women with PCOS had lower birth weight (3357 ± 477 vs. 3 445 ± 505 g, p < 0.001), earlier age at AR (5.2 ± 1.0 vs. 5.6 ± 0.90 years, p < 0.001) and higher BMI from AR onwards compared with controls. Early timing of AR was associated with PCOS diagnosis independently of BMI (OR 1.62, 95% Cl 1.37–1.92). Women with PCOS and early AR had higher BMI at 31 and 46 years when compared to controls with early AR. The age at AR did not associate with T levels at ages 31 or 46 years.Conclusions:Early AR was associated with PCOS diagnosis and high BMI in adulthood. Adolescent girls with early AR and persisting obesity should be screened for PCOS symptoms, such as persistent irregular cycles and hirsutism.

Highlights

Supplementary information The online version of this article contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.Childhood obesity is an epidemic problem worldwide, often leading to adult obesity and early occurrence of several obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome [1]
We observed no differences between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and control groups at adiposity peak (AP), whereas the longitudinal childhood body mass index (BMI) trajectory data revealed earlier Adiposity rebound (AR) timing and higher BMIs in women with PCOS compared with controls from AR timing onwards (Figs. 1b and 2, Table 1)
T at age 31 or 46 was not an independent risk factor for timing of AR. In this prospective population-based cohort study we investigated for the first time the associations between birth weight, early growth, and AR timing vs. PCOS diagnosis and BMI by age 46

Summary

Introduction

Age at adiposity rebound in childhood is associated with PCOS diagnosis and obesity in. Early timing of adiposity rebound (AR), the second rise in BMI following a nadir occurring in early childhood, has been associated with increased risks of obesity and metabolic derangements both in adolescence and in adulthood [5, 6]. Adiposity rebound (AR), the second BMI rise in childhood at around the age of 6 years, is associated with obesity and metabolic alteration in later life. We aimed to investigate the associations between age at AR and PCOS diagnosis and BMI later in life. Timing of AR was associated with PCOS diagnosis independently of BMI (OR 1.62, 95% Cl 1.37–1.92). Conclusions: Early AR was associated with PCOS diagnosis and high BMI in adulthood. Adolescent girls with early AR and persisting obesity should be screened for PCOS symptoms, such as persistent irregular cycles and hirsutism

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