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Abstract

Although early adiposity rebound has been closely linked to the risk of obesity, the same is not true for late adiposity rebound. My study suggested that late adiposity rebound was also closely—and inversely—associated with future obesity. Arisaka et al reported that children with late adiposity rebound also experienced puberty at a later age and that their lipid profiles showed a less atherogenic pattern than their peers with early adiposity rebound, indicating that maturation and metabolic health were associated with not only “early” but also “late” adiposity rebound. They also raised a valid point on addressing the association between adiposity rebound and brain health development. Kuzawa et al suggested that brain energetics may influence “BMI at roughly 3-4 years of age” along with the timing of adiposity rebound and future obesity risk.1Kuzawa C.W. Blair C. A hypothesis linking the energy demand of the brain to obesity risk.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019; 116: 13266-13275Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar The relationship between brain energetics and obesity might explain the correlation between obesity and poor academic performance among school-aged children.2Daniels S.R. Complications of obesity in children and adolescents.Int J Obes (Lond). 2009; 33: S60-S65Crossref PubMed Scopus (385) Google Scholar3Martin A. Booth J.N. McGeown S. Niven A. Sproule J. Saunders D.H. et al.Longitudinal associations between childhood obesity and academic achievement: systematic review with focus group data.Curr Obes Rep. 2017; 6: 297-313Crossref PubMed Scopus (37) Google Scholar Kuzawa et al also suggested the possibility of "direct genetically mediated energetic trade-offs between the brain and fat deposition". However, as they pointed out, it is unclear if an intervention that can boost brain energy use would be clinically useful in lowering the risk of obesity.1Kuzawa C.W. Blair C. A hypothesis linking the energy demand of the brain to obesity risk.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019; 116: 13266-13275Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar Although we can identify the associations among the timing of adiposity rebound, obesity, and brain energetics, designing interventions based on these findings to benefit children clinically would be much more challenging. The relationships between adiposity rebound and obesity, metabolic health, puberty, and brain health are intertwined; investigating the relationship between adiposity rebound and brain health may further elucidate the exact role of the timing of adiposity rebound. Implications of late adiposity reboundThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 219PreviewThe increased risk of obesity with early adiposity rebound is well documented, but the clinical significance of late adiposity rebound is not fully understood.1-3 Moon concluded that late adiposity rebound (≥7 years of age) was significantly associated with a decreased risk of obesity and an increased probability of reversing obesity among kindergarteners.4 Thus, in considering the transition of the risk of obesity during early childhood, the progress of late adiposity rebound is important.4 Full-Text PDF