Serial childhood BMI and associations with adult hypertension and obesity: the Fels Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Previous studies estimated critical periods of childhood BMI growth and linked these events to adult adiposity and cardiovascular health. We expand upon both results to link childhood BMI growth patterns with adult blood pressure (BP). Data from male and female participants in the Fels Longitudinal Study (FLS) were used to estimate childhood BMI growth curves, from which we isolate ages of childhood BMI divergence based upon adult BMI and BP measurements. Repeated measure analysis of variances models were used to estimate BMI growth curves from age 2 to age 17.5 based on both adult BMI (< 25 kg/m(2) or ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) and adult BP (< 120 mm Hg or ≥ 120 mm Hg for systolic BP (SBP); < 80 mm Hg or ≥ 80 mm Hg for diastolic BP (DBP)). Participants with lower body weight throughout childhood had lower SBP and DBP in early adulthood. Any relationships between childhood adiposity and adult body weight and BP disappeared by age 60. These results were independent of adult BMI and were observed in both men and women. Increased adult BP has its genesis in part from increased childhood BMI.

Figure 1

Mean Childhood Male and Female Body Mass Index (BMI kg/m²) Patterns (with 95% Confidence Intervals) Based on Adult BMI and both Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP mmHg) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) at Age 20.