Classification of childhood obesity using longitudinal clinical body mass index and its validation.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Persistence of childhood adiposity is known to be associated with long-term adverse cardiometabolic risks. Yet, cross-sectional body mass index (BMI) is often used to classify obesity in clinical care and research. This study aimed to develop and validate a childhood BMI classification system using real life longitudinal clinical data.

Methods

This observational study used electronic health record data from a tertiary care hospital, with replication in an independent cohort. For individuals with ≥ 3 BMI measurements, the median BMI percentile and persistence in the obesity class were used for longitudinal classification. The association between longitudinal BMI class and early onset obesity, socioeconomic status (SES), and adverse cardiometabolic risk was analyzed.

SUBMITTER: Ebrahim N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12604020 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature