Gestational weight change and childhood body composition trajectories from pregnancy to early adolescence. Issue 3 (9th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Widen, Elizabeth M.; Burns, Natalie; Daniels, Michael; Backlund, Grant; Rickman, Rachel; Foster, Saralyn; Nichols, Amy R.; Hoepner, Lori A.; Kinsey, Eliza W.; Ramirez‐Carvey, Judyth; Hassoun, Abeer; Perera, Frederica P.; Bukowski, Radek; Rundle, Andrew G.
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 30:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 707
• Page End: 717
• Publication Date: 2022-02-09
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.23367
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: A mother–child dyad trajectory model of weight and body composition spanning from conception to adolescence was developed to understand how early life exposures shape childhood body composition. Methods: African American (49.3%) and Dominican (50.7%) pregnant mothers ( n = 337) were enrolled during pregnancy, and their children (47.5% female) were followed from ages 5 to 14. Gestational weight gain (GWG) was abstracted from medical records. Child weight, height, percentage body fat, and waist circumference were measured. GWG and child body composition trajectories were jointly modeled with a flexible latent class model with a class membership component that included prepregnancy BMI. Results: Four prenatal and child body composition trajectory patterns were identified, and sex‐specific patterns were observed for the joint GWG–postnatal body composition trajectories with more distinct patterns among girls but not boys. Girls of mothers with high GWG across gestation had the highest BMI z score, waist circumference, and percentage body fat trajectories from ages 5 to 14; however, boys in this high GWG group did not show similar growth patterns. Conclusions: Jointly modeled prenatal weight and child body composition trajectories showed sex‐specific patterns. Growth patterns from childhood though early adolescence appeared to be more profoundly affected by higher GWG patterns in females, suggesting sex differences in developmental programming.