Investigating socioeconomic inequalities in BMI growth rates during childhood and adolescence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many countries report socioeconomic inequalities in childhood obesity, but when they develop is not well-characterised. Studies rarely isolate BMI growth rates from overall BMI, perhaps overlooking an important precursor to the observed inequalities in obesity. The objective of this study was to determine the age at which inequalities in BMI growth rates develop in children and whether they are similar across the BMI spectrum.

Methods

Using the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (n = 9024), a cohort study, we measured socioeconomic inequalities in annual BMI growth from age 2 to 17 years by age, sex and weight status. We fit a linear model using generalised estimating equations (GEE) to estimate simultaneously the effects of age and weight status on

SUBMITTER: Killedar A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8804938 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature