Examining the association between early life social adversity and BMI changes in childhood: a life course trajectory analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A number of studies have found associations between multiple aspects of social adversity and obesity in childhood, yet this research has largely been limited to cross-sectional data.

Objectives

This study aimed to address this limitation by using life course trajectory methods to determine whether multiple aspects of social adversity in early childhood are associated with changes in body mass index (BMI) throughout childhood.

Methods

Associations between multiple measures of social adversity from birth to 4 years and subsequent BMI trajectories to age 17 were examined in 7021 children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Results

Higher BMI throughout ages 12-17 were observed for children whose parents had separated, were exposed to

SUBMITTER: Morris TT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4767691 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature