Early Risk Factors of Overweight Developmental Trajectories during Middle Childhood.

Laura E Pryor,Bruno Falissard,Mara Brendgen,Jean-Baptiste Pingault,Michel Boivin,Xuecheng Liu,Richard E Tremblay,Lise Dubois,Sylvana M Côté,Evelyne Touchette

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131231

Abstract

BackgroundResearch is needed to identify early life risk factors associated with different developmental paths leading to overweight by adolescence.ObjectivesTo model heterogeneity in overweight development during middle childhood and identify factors associated with differing overweight trajectories.MethodsData was drawn from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD; 1998-2010). Trained research assistants measured height and weight according to a standardized protocol and conducted yearly home interviews with the child’s caregiver (mother in 98% of cases). Information on several putative early life risk factors for the development of overweight were obtained, including factors related to the child’s perinatal, early behavioral family and social environment. Group-based trajectories of the probability of overweight (6-12 years) were identified with a semiparametric method (n=1678). Logistic regression analyses were used to identify early risk factors (5 months- 5 years) associated with each trajectory.ResultsThree trajectories of overweight were identified: “early-onset overweight” (11.0 %), “late-onset overweight” (16.6%) and “never overweight” (72.5%). Multinomial analyses indicated that children in the early and late-onset group, compared to the never overweight group, had 3 common types of risk factors: parental overweight, preschool overweight history, and large size for gestational age. Maternal overprotection (OR= 1.12, CI: 1.01-1.25), short nighttime sleep duration (OR=1.66, CI: 1.07-2.57), and immigrant status (OR=2.01, CI: 1.05-3.84) were factors specific to the early-onset group. Finally, family food insufficiency (OR=1.81, CI: 1.00-3.28) was weakly associated with membership in the late-onset trajectory group.ConclusionsThe development of overweight in childhood follows two different trajectories, which have common and distinct risk factors that could be the target of early preventive interventions.

Highlights

Child overweight and obesity negatively impacts physical and emotional well-being and augments the risk for adult disease [1]
The development of overweight in childhood follows two different trajectories, which have common and distinct risk factors that could be the target of early preventive interventions
We examined 3 types of early life risk factors: those related to the perinatal period, those specific to the child, and those belonging to the family and social environment

Summary

Introduction

Child overweight and obesity (hereafter termed “childhood overweight”) negatively impacts physical and emotional well-being and augments the risk for adult disease [1]. Li and colleagues [11] identified three distinct trajectory groups characterizing the development of weight status from 2–12 years in a US sample: 1) early-onset (10.9% of children), 2) lateonset (after 8 years; 5.2%), and 3) never overweight (83.9%). This pattern has been replicated among similar age groups [12] while others have identified a fourth, decreasing group [10, 21]. Up to 7 distinct trajectories have been identified [22] comparisons between studies are limited by differences in age range and in method for classifying overweight. Research is needed to identify early life risk factors associated with different developmental paths leading to overweight by adolescence

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Conclusion