Abstract

The goal of the proposed research is to develop better definitions of childhood overweight and obesity based on the association of childhood weight with health consequences in adulthood. Current definitions are based on a child having a value above an arbitrary cut-off in a distribution of weight or body mass index (BMI; kg/m2). Children in the US and worldwide are becoming excessively heavy at progressively younger ages. Therefore, it is both critical and timely that we examine the risks of excess weight and weight change in childhood for adult disease and create evidence based cut-offs. We will use data from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register, which is based on a population of school children born between 1930 - 1983 and contains computerized weight and height measurements on 351,777 boys and girls in the Copenhagen area. We will use survival analysis techniques to examine if childhood BMI and change in BMI from age 7-14 y is associated with an-increased risk of developing heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, obesity-related cancers and mortality in adulthood. Based on the association of childhood BMI with adult disease and mortality, we will develop criteria to define categories of childhood overweight and obesity.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32DK070491-02
Application #
7127317
Study Section
Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Study Section (ECD)
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2007-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$43,428
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Institute of Preventive Medicine
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Copenhagen
State
Country
Denmark
Zip Code

  Publications

Silventoinen, Karri; Baker, Jennifer L; Sorensen, Thorkild I A (2012) Growth in height in childhood and risk of coronary heart disease in adult men and women. PLoS One 7:e30476
Baker, Jennifer L; Olsen, Lina W; Andersen, Ingelise et al. (2009) Cohort profile: the Copenhagen School Health Records Register. Int J Epidemiol 38:656-62
Gamborg, Michael; Andersen, Per Kragh; Baker, Jennifer L et al. (2009) Life course path analysis of birth weight, childhood growth, and adult systolic blood pressure. Am J Epidemiol 169:1167-78
Baker, Jennifer L; Gamborg, Michael; Heitmann, Berit L et al. (2008) Breastfeeding reduces postpartum weight retention. Am J Clin Nutr 88:1543-51
Baker, Jennifer L; Olsen, Lina W; Sorensen, Thorkild I A (2008) Weight at birth and all-cause mortality in adulthood. Epidemiology 19:197-203
Baker, Jennifer L; Olsen, Lina W; Sorensen, Thorkild I A (2007) Childhood body-mass index and the risk of coronary heart disease in adulthood. N Engl J Med 357:2329-37