Predicting metabolic syndrome in mid-adulthood from body mass index and skinfold thickness values in childhood / Raskiliene A., Petkeviciene J., Klumbiene J., Kriaucioniene V

no. T7:PO.001

T7 – Lifecourse perspective.

Abstracts.

ISBN 978-3-318-05493-4.

Introduction: Several studies demonstrated the association between childhood weight status and metabolic syndrome (MS) in adults. However, it is still unclear whether the observed associations reflect the tracking of body mass index (BMI) from childhood to adulthood or whether childhood adiposity has an independent effect on risk of MS. This study aimed to examine the effect of childhood BMI and skinfold thickness in prediction of MS in adults controlling for BMI gain from childhood to adulthood. Methods: The study subjects were participants of the Kaunas Cardiovascular Risk Cohort study that started in 1977. A random sample of Kaunas schoolchildren born in 1964 was examined in the first survey. In 2012, a total of 507 subjects (63.9% of eligible sample) participated in the 35- year follow-up survey being 48–49 years old. In childhood, height, weight, subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness measurements were taken. The follow-up health examination involved measurements of BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose and lipids levels. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess the associations of childhood BMI and skinfold thicknesses as well as BMI gain with MS in middle age. Results: BMI in childhood predicted development of central obesity (OR=1.2; 95% CI=1.1–1.3) and MS (OR=1.2; 95% CI=1.1–1.2) in adulthood. The sum of subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses in childhood was also associated with odds of MS (OR=1.3; 95% CI=1.1–1.6) in adulthood. The adjustment for BMI gain from childhood to adulthood did not diminish the effect of childhood anthropometric measurements for the prediction of MS. Conclusion: Risk of MS may be affected by childhood BMI and skinfold thickness, irrespective of BMI gain from childhood to adulthood.