The Effect of Prenatal and Early Life Exposure to Bisphenol A on Body Size at Age 7 Years

Abstract

PP-31-121 Background/Aims: There is a growing concern that prenatal and early life exposures to endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A (BPA), may program children for weight gain and contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic. Methods: As part of the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health birth cohort of African American and Dominican children living in the South Bronx and Upper Manhattan, maternal prenatal urine samples and children's urine samples are being analyzed for BPA. Children are being followed up till 10–11 years of age with height, weight measures being taken at ages 5, 7, and 10–11. At ages 7 and 10–11 years, measurements of waist circumference and body composition via the Tanita Body Composition Analyzer (BC-148) are also being taken. At age 10–11 years, data on physical activity and food frequency data on dietary intake are also being collected. Results: To date, body size and body composition data have been collected and validated for 246 children at 7 years of age and 18% of the 7 year-olds have been found to be obese. Prenatal and early life predictors of weight at age 7 include the following: maternal pre-pregnancy weight (β = 0.06 kg per kg of mothers weight, P = <0.001), mother receiving public assistance during pregnancy (β = −2.70 kg, P = 0.04), mother's foreign-born status (β = −3.08 kg, P = 0.11), and child's birth weight (compared to the first tertile of birth weight, children in the third tertile were 3.01 kg heavier, P = 0.06). Laboratory analyses of maternal BPA levels are ongoing and the data on the relationship between prenatal BPA exposure and body size at age 7, controlling for the identified prenatal and early life risk factors will be presented. Conclusion: The Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health is uniquely poised to test whether prenatal exposure to BPA plays a role in childhood weight gain among urban children.