Stunting in infancy, pubertal trajectories and adult body composition: the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort, South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Childhood rapid growth and earlier puberty onset have been associated with adult obesity. However, the association between childhood stunting, pubertal timing and adult obesity is unclear. We examined whether the relationship between stunting at age 2 years (y) and body composition at 23 years is mediated by adolescent body mass index, and pubertal development, using the Birth-to-Twenty Plus cohort (South Africa).

Subjects/methods

For 1036 participants, data on anthropometrics between birth and 23 years, maternal factors, and pubertal development (Tanner scale at 9-16 years) were collected. Stunting at 2 years (height-for-age z-score < -2), 5-18 years BMI-for-age trajectories, pubertal development trajectories, and DXA-derived fat mass (FM) and fat free

SUBMITTER: Chidumwa G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7817521 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature