The utility of childhood and adolescent obesity assessment in relation to adult health.

ABSTRACT:

Background

High childhood obesity prevalence has raised concerns about future adult health, generating calls for obesity screening of young children.

Objective

To estimate how well childhood obesity predicts adult obesity and to forecast obesity-related health of future US adults.

Design

Longitudinal statistical analyses; microsimulations combining multiple data sets.

Data sources

National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Population Study of Income Dynamics, and National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Surveys.

Methods

The authors estimated test characteristics and predictive values of childhood body mass index to identify 2-, 5-, 10-, and 15 year-olds who will become obese adults. The authors constructed models relating childhood body mass index to obesity

SUBMITTER: Goldhaber-Fiebert JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3968272 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature