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Background: We sought to determine if the rate of increase in body mass index (BMI) differs between first generation immigrant children (child and both parents born outside Canada); second generation immigrant children (child born in Canada with at least one parent born outside Canada); and native-born children (child and both parents born in Canada), and if the rate of increase varies across ethnic groups. Methods: Data were available from the evaluation of a 5-year heart health promotion program targeted to elementary school children from 24 schools in multi-ethnic, disadvantaged, inner-city neighborhoods in Montreal, Canada. Participants were 6392 children aged 9–12 years born in and outside of Canada. Height and weight were measured annually according to a standardized protocol. BMI increases with age were examined using individual growth models stratified by immigrant status grouping (first generation immigrant, second generation immigrant, native-born). Results: On average, BMI increased by 0.59, 0.73, and 0.82 kg/m2 with each year of age among first generation immigrant, second generation immigrant, and native-born children, respectively. These differences held across four family origin grouping (Europe, Asia, Central/South America, and Other). Conclusion: The protective effect of immigrant status on BMI increases with age dissipated in second generation immigrant children, whose rate of increase was similar to that of native-born children. Because immigrants constitute the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population, it is important to understand the causes of the higher BMI increases with successive generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the effect of cigarette use on height and adiposity in adolescents. Methods: Data on cigarette use were collected every 3 months for 5 years from adolescents initially 12–13 years of age. Height, weight, and triceps skinfold thickness were measured in survey cycles 1, 12, and 19. Multivariate linear regression models were fitted to estimate the association between cigarette use and the anthropometric measures in a dataset that pooled data over two time periods, from survey cycles 1–12 and from survey cycles 12–19. Results: Data were available for 451 boys and 478 girls. Seven percent of boys and 14% of girls smoked ≥30 cigarettes per month on average during the first time period; 9% of boys and 18% of girls smoked ≥30 cigarettes per month on average during the second time period. In boys, a 100-cigarette per month increment in cigarette use over the preceding 2.5 years was independently associated with lower body mass index (−0.4 kg/m2) and shorter height (−0.7 cm). In girls, cigarette use was not associated with height or adiposity. Conclusions: While there was no relation in girls, cigarette use appears to decrease body mass index and height in boys. Young girls may be less likely to take up cigarette smoking if tobacco control messages emphasize that cigarette use may not be associated with reduced weight in adolescent females. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]