Family history of non-communicable diseases and associations with weight and movement behaviours in Australian school-aged children: a prospective study

Abstract

Objective: To assess differences in weight status and movement behaviour guideline compliance among children aged 5-12 years with and without a family history of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Design: Prospective.

Setting and participants: Women born between 1973 and 1978 were recruited to the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) via the database of the Health Insurance Commission (now Medicare; Australia's universal health insurance scheme). In 2016-2017, women in that cohort were invited to participate in the Mothers and their Children's Health Study and reported on their three youngest children (aged <13 years). Data from children aged 5-12 years (n=4416) were analysed.

Measures: Mothers reported their children's height and weight, used to calculate body mass index (kg/m²), physical activity, screen time and sleep. In the 2015 ALSWH Survey, women reported diagnoses and family history of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. Logistic regression models determined differences between outcomes for children with and without a family history of NCDs.

Results: Boys with a family history of type 2 diabetes had 30% (95% CI: 0.51%-0.97%) and 43% lower odds (95% CI: 0.37%-0.88%) of meeting the sleep and combined guidelines, respectively, and 40% higher odds (95% CI: 1.01%- 1.95%) of being overweight/obese. Girls with a family history of hypertension had 27% lower odds (95% CI: 0.57%-0.93%) of meeting the screen time guidelines. No associations were observed for family history of heart disease.

Conclusions: Children who have a family history of type 2 diabetes and hypertension may be at risk of poorer health behaviours from a young age. Mothers with a diagnosis or a family history of these NCDs may need additional support to help their children develop healthy movement behaviours and maintain healthy weight.

Keywords: community child health; epidemiology; public health.

Figure 1

Participant flow chart. ALSWH, Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health; BMI, body mass index; MatCH, Mothers and their Children’s Health Study.

Figure 2

Odds of meeting guidelines and overweight/obesity for boys with family history of non-communicable diseases, adjusted for maternal age, maternal education, remoteness, child age and clustering by family.

Figure 3

Odds of meeting guidelines and overweight/obesity for girls with family history of non-communicable diseases, adjusted for maternal age, maternal education, remoteness, child age and clustering by family.