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Background/objectives: The strong regulation of protein intake can lead to overconsumption of total energy on diets with a low proportion of energy from protein, a process referred to as protein leverage. The protein leverage hypothesis posits that protein leverage explains variation in energy intake and potentially obesity in ecological settings. Here, we tested for protein leverage and the protein leverage hypothesis in children and adolescents., Subjects/methods: A population sample of children, mean (SD) age 7.6 (0.4) years (n = 422), followed up at age 9.8 (0.4) years (n = 387) and at age 15.8 (0.4) years (n = 229), participating for the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study., Exposures: 4-day food records-related proportional energy intake of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates., Outcomes: energy intake, body mass index (BMI) z-score and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-related energy expenditure., Results: Proportional energy intake of proteins was inversely associated with energy intake following power functions at all 3 ages (mean [95%CI] strength of leverage of L = -0.36 [-0.47 to -0.25]; L = -0.26 [-0.37 to -0.15]; L = -0.25 [-0.38 to -0.13]; all P < 0.001). Mixture analysis indicated that variance in energy intake was associated primarily with the proportional intake of energy from proteins, not with either fats or carbohydrates. At all 3 ages, energy intake was not associated with BMI z-score but positively associated with energy expenditure (all P < 0.001)., Conclusions: This study provides evidence consistent with protein leverage in a population sample of children and adolescents. Increased energy intake on diets with lower protein content was counterbalanced by increased energy expenditure and therefore did not translate into increased adiposity., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Modelling of associations of systolic blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose (BG) with their explanatory factors in separate regressions treats them as having independent biological mechanisms. This can lead to statistical inferences that are unreliable because the substantial overlap in their etiologic and disease mechanisms is ignored., Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship of systolic blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose (BG) with measures of obesity and central fat distribution and other factors whilst taking account of the inter-dependence between them., Methods: Participants (n = 14706, 53.5 % females) aged 25-64 years were selected by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling from eight provinces each representing one of the eight geographical regions of Vietnam. Measurements were made using the World Health Organization STEPS protocols., Results: Structural modelling identified direct effects for BG (men P = 0.000, women P = 0.029), age (men P = 0.000, women P = 0.000) and body mass index (BMI) (men P = 0.000, women P = 0.000) in the estimation of systolic BP, and for systolic BP (men P = 0.036, women P = 0.000) and waist circumference (WC) (men P = 0.032, women P = 0.009) in the estimation of BG. There were indirect effects of age, cholesterol, physical activity and tobacco smoking via their influence on WC and BMI. The errors in estimation of systolic BP and BG were correlated (men P = 0.000, women P = 0.004), the stability indices (men 0.466, women 0.495) showed the non-recursive models were stable, and the proportion of variance explained was mid-range (men 0.553, women 0.579)., Conclusion: This study provided statistical evidence of a feedback loop between systolic BP and BG. BMI and WC were confirmed to be their primary explanatory factors. Saturated fat intake and physical activity were identified as possible targets of intervention for overweight and obesity, and indirectly for reducing systolic BP and BG. Harmful/hazardous alcohol intake was identified as a target of intervention for systolic BP.

Background: The role of genetic risk scores associated with adult body mass index (BMI) on BMI levels across the life course is unclear. We examined if a 97 single nucleotide polymorphism weighted genetic risk score (wGRS97) associated with age-related progression in BMI at different life stages and distinct developmental trajectories of BMI across the early life course., Methods: 2188 Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study participants born pre-1980 who had genotype data and objective measurements of height and weight collected up to 8 times from age 6 to 49 years. Associations were examined using Individual Growth Curve analysis, Latent Class Growth Mixture Modelling, and Poisson modified regression., Results: The wGRS97 associated with BMI from age 6 years with peak effect sizes observed at age 30 years (females: 1.14 kg/m 2 ; males: 1.09 kg/m 2 higher BMI per standard deviation increase in wGRS97). The association between wGRS97 and BMI became stronger with age in childhood but slowed in adolescence, especially in females, and weakened at age 35-40 years. A higher wGRS97 associated with an increased BMI velocity in childhood and adulthood, but not with BMI change in adulthood. Compared with belonging to a 'normal stable' life-course trajectory group (normal BMI from childhood to adulthood), a one standard deviation higher wGRS97 associated with a 13-127% increased risk of belonging to a less favourable life-course BMI trajectory group., Conclusions: Individuals with genetic susceptibility to higher adult BMI have higher levels and accelerated rates of increase in BMI in childhood/adolescence, and are at increased risk of having a less favourable life-course BMI trajectory.

Obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases and disabilities, with severe implications on morbidity and mortality among older adults. With an increasing prevalence of obesity among older adults in Ghana, it has become necessary to develop cost-effective strategies for its management and prevention. However, developing such strategies is challenging as body mass index (BMI)-specific utilization and costs required for cost-effectiveness analysis are not available in this population. Therefore, this study examines the associations between health services utilization as well as direct healthcare costs and overweight (BMI ≥25.00 and <30.00 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30.00 kg/m2) among older adults in Ghana. Data were used from a nationally representative, multistage sample of 3350 people aged 50+ years from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO-SAGE; 2014/15). Health service utilization was measured by the number of health facility visits over a 12-month period. Direct costs (2017 US dollars) included out-of-pocket payments and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims. Associations between utilization and BMI were examined using multivariable zero-inflated negative binomial regressions; and between costs and BMI using multivariable two-part regressions. Twenty-three percent were overweight and 13% were obese. Compared with normal-weight participants, overweight and obesity were associated with 75% and 159% more inpatient admissions, respectively. Obesity was also associated with 53% additional outpatient visits. One in five of the overweight and obese population had at least one chronic disease, and having chronic disease was associated with increased outpatient utilization. The average per person total costs for overweight was $78 and obesity was $132 compared with $35 for normal weight. The NHIS bore approximately 60% of the average total costs per person expended in 2014/15. Overweight and obese groups had significantly higher total direct healthcare costs burden of $121 million compared with $64 million for normal weight in the entire older adult Ghanaian population. Compared with normal weight, the total costs per person associated with overweight increased by 73% and more than doubled for obesity. Even though the total prevalence of overweight and obesity was about half of that of normal weight, the sum of their cost burden was almost doubled. Implementing weight reduction measures could reduce health service utilization and costs in this population., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objectives: We examined how combinations of clinical indicators at various ages predict overweight/obesity development, as well as resolution, by 10-11 and 14-15 years of age., Methods: Data were derived from Birth (N = 3469) and Kinder (N = 3276) cohorts of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, followed from ages 2-3 and 4-5 years, respectively. Every two years, 25 potential obesity-relevant clinical indicators were quantified. Overweight/obesity was defined using International Obesity Taskforce cutpoints at 10-11 years and 14-15 years., Results: In both cohorts, three factors predicted both development and resolution of overweight/obesity in multivariable models. Among normal weight children, increased odds of developing overweight/obesity were associated with higher child (odd ratio (OR) 1.67-3.35 across different study waves) and maternal (OR 1.05-1.09) BMI, and inversely with higher maternal education (OR 0.60-0.62, when assessed at age 2-7 years). Lower odds of resolving existing overweight/obesity were related with higher child (OR 0.51-0.79) and maternal (OR 0.89-0.95) BMI, and inversely with higher maternal education (OR 1.62-1.92, when assessed at age 2-5 years). The prevalence of overweight/obesity at the age of 14-15 years was 13% among children with none of these risk factors at age 6-7 years, compared with 71% among those with all 3 risk factors (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: From early childhood onwards, child and maternal BMI and maternal education predict overweight/obesity onset and resolution by adolescence. A simple risk score, easily available to child health clinicians, could help target treatment or prevention.

Background: Obesity is a major public health challenge and its prevalence has increased across the age spectrum from 1980 to date in most parts of the world including sub-Saharan Africa. Studies that derive health state utilities (HSUs) stratified by weight status to support the conduct of economic evaluations and prioritization of cost-effective weight management interventions are lacking in sub-Saharan Africa., Objectives: To estimate age- and sex-specific HSUs for Ghana, along with HSUs by weight status. Associations between HSUs and overweight and obesity will be examined., Study Design: Cross-sectional survey of the Ghanaian population., Methods: Data were sourced from the World Health Organization Study of Global AGEing and Adult Health (WHO SAGE), 2014 to 2015. Using a "judgment-based mapping" method, responses to items from the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life (WHOQOL-100) used in the WHO SAGE were mapped to EQ-5D-5L profiles, and the Zimbabwe value set was applied to calculate HSUs. Poststratified sampling weights were applied to estimate mean HSUs, and a multivariable linear regression model was used to examine associations between HSUs and overweight or obesity., Results: Responses from 3966 adults aged 18 to 110 years were analyzed. The mean (95% confidence interval) HSU was 0.856 (95% CI: 0.850, 0.863) for the population, 0.866 (95% CI: 0.857, 0.875) for men, and 0.849 (95% CI: 0.841, 0.856) for women. Lower mean HSUs were observed for obese individuals and with older ages. Multivariable regression analysis showed that HSUs were negatively associated with obesity (-0.024; 95% CI: -0.037, -0.011), female sex (-0.011; 95% CI: -0.020, -0.003), and older age groups in the population., Conclusions: The study provides HSUs by sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) categories for the Ghanaian population and examines associations between HSU and high BMI. Obesity was negatively associated with health state utility in the population. These data can be used in future economic evaluations for Ghana and sub-Saharan African populations., (Copyright © 2019 ISPOR–The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Studies on changes in the prevalence and determinants of obesity in older adults living in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. We examined recent changes in obesity prevalence and associated factors for older adults in Ghana between 2007/08 and 2014/15., Methods: Data on adults aged 50 years and older in Ghana were drawn from the WHO SAGE 2007/08 (Wave 1; n = 4158) and 2014/15 (Wave 2; n = 1663). The weighted prevalence of obesity, overweight, normal weight and underweight, and of high central adiposity were compared in 2007/08 and 2014/15. Multinomial and binomial logistic regressions were used to examine whether the determinants of weight status based on objectively measured body mass index and waist circumference changed between the two time periods., Results: The prevalence of overweight (2007/08 = 19.6%, 95% CI: 18.0-21.4%; 2014/15 = 24.5%, 95% CI: 21.7-27.5%) and obesity (2007/08 = 10.2%, 95% CI: 8.9-11.7%; 2014/15 = 15.0%, 95% CI: 12.6-17.7%) was higher in 2014/15 than 2007/08 and more than half of the population had high central adiposity (2007/08 = 57.7%, 95% CI: 55.4-60.1%; 2014/15 = 66.9%, 95% CI: 63.7-70.0%) in both study periods. While the prevalence of overweight increased in both sexes, obesity prevalence was 16% lower in males and 55% higher in females comparing 2007/08 to 2014/15. Female sex, urban residence, and high household wealth were associated with higher odds of overweight/obesity and high central adiposity. Those aged 70+ years had lower odds of obesity in both study waves. In 2014/15, females who did not meet the recommended physical activity were more likely to be obese., Conclusion: Over the 7-year period between the surveys, the prevalence of underweight decreased and overweight increased in both sexes, while obesity decreased in males but increased in females. The difference in obesity prevalence may point to differential impacts of past initiatives to reduce overweight and obesity, potential high-risk groups in Ghana, and the need to increase surveillance., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Obesity has emerged as a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases in low and middle-income countries but may not follow typical socioeconomic status (SES)-related gradients seen in higher income countries. This study examines the associations between current and lifetime markers of SES and BMI categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese) and central adiposity in Ghanaian adults., Methods: Data from 4,464 adults (2,610 women) who participated in the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 2 were examined. Multilevel multinomial and binomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations. SES markers included parental education, individual education, intergenerational educational mobility and household wealth. Intergenerational educational mobility was classified: stable-low (low parental and low individual education), stable-high (high parental and high individual education), upwardly (low parental and high individual education), or downwardly mobile (high parental and low individual education)., Results: The prevalence of obesity (12.9%) exceeded the prevalence of underweight (7.2%) in the population. High parental and individual education were significantly associated with higher odds of obesity and central adiposity in women. Compared to the stable low pattern, stable high (obesity: OR = 3.15; 95% CI: 1.96, 5.05; central adiposity: OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.98) and upwardly (obesity: OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 11.13, 2.60; central adiposity: OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.37) mobile education patterns were associated with higher odds of obesity and central adiposity in women, while stable high pattern was associated with higher odds of overweight (OR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.11, 3.19) in men. Additionally, high compared to the lowest household wealth was associated with high odds of obesity and central adiposity in both sexes., Conclusion: Stable high and upwardly mobile education patterns are associated with higher odds of obesity and central adiposity in women while the stable high pattern was associated with higher odds of overweight in men., Competing Interests: The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Objective: Our objective was to assess cardiovascular risk and metabolic complications in adulthood in subjects with or without overweight and metabolic disturbances (i.e., elevated blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and high LDL cholesterol) and their combinations as youth., Research Design and Methods: Using data from the population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study, we examined the utility of four age- and sex-specific youth phenotypes (group I: normal weight, no metabolic disturbances; group II: normal weight, one or more metabolic disturbances; group III: overweight/obese, no metabolic disturbances; group IV: overweight/obese, one or more metabolic disturbances) in predicting adult high carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The study included 1,617 participants 9-24 years of age at baseline who were followed up 21-25 years later., Results: IMT (mean ± SEM) was higher among participants in groups II (0.627 ± 0.005 mm, P = 0.05), III (0.647 ± 0.010 mm, P = 0.005), and IV (0.670 ± 0.010 mm, P < 0.0001) compared with group I (0.616 ± 0.003 mm). In addition, subjects in group IV had significantly higher IMT compared with those in group II (P = 0.002). Participants in groups II, III, and IV were at increased risk of the development of MetS in adulthood compared with those in the control group. For group II participants, the difference was attenuated after risk factor adjustments. Additionally, participants in group III and IV were at increased risk of the development of T2DM compared with those in groups I and II., Conclusions: While metabolic risk factors associated with overweight increase future risk for MetS, T2DM, and increased IMT, overweight in isolation is also a risk factor. Therefore, overweight should be prevented and treated wherever possible., (© 2014 by the American Diabetes Association.)

Background: We have examined the association between adiposity and cardiac structure in adulthood, using a life course approach that takes account of the contribution of adiposity in both childhood and adulthood., Methods: The Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study (CDAH) is a follow-up study of 8,498 children who participated in the 1985 Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey (ASHFS). The CDAH follow-up study included 2,410 participants who attended a clinic examination. Of these, 181 underwent cardiac imaging and provided complete data. The measures were taken once when the children were aged 9 to 15 years, and once in adult life, aged 26 to 36 years., Results: There was a positive association between adult left ventricular mass (LVM) and childhood body mass index (BMI) in males (regression coefficient (β) 0.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14 to 0.67; p = 0.003), and females (β = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.72; p < 0.001), and with change in BMI from childhood to adulthood (males: β = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.51; p < 0.001, females: β = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.58; p < 0.001), after adjustment for confounding factors (age, fitness, triglyceride levels and total cholesterol in adulthood). After further adjustment for known potential mediating factors (systolic BP and fasting plasma glucose in adulthood) the relationship of LVM with childhood BMI (males: β = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.71; p = 0.001, females: β = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.68; p < 0.001) and change in BMI (males: β = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.49; p = 0.02, females: β = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.59; p < 0.001) did not change markedly., Conclusions: Adiposity and increased adiposity from childhood to adulthood appear to have a detrimental effect on cardiac structure.

Background: Hypertension is a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. The present longitudinal study aimed to examine the best combination of childhood physical and environmental factors to predict adult hypertension and furthermore whether newly identified genetic variants for blood pressure increase the prediction of adult hypertension., Methods and Results: The study cohort included 2625 individuals from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study who were followed up for 21 to 27 years since baseline (1980; age, 3-18 years). In addition to dietary factors and biomarkers related to blood pressure, we examined whether a genetic risk score based on 29 newly identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms enhances the prediction of adult hypertension. Hypertension in adulthood was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mm Hg or medication for the condition. Independent childhood risk factors for adult hypertension included the individual's own blood pressure (P<0.0001), parental hypertension (P<0.0001), childhood overweight/obesity (P=0.005), low parental occupational status (P=0.003), and high genetic risk score (P<0.0001). Risk assessment based on childhood overweight/obesity status, parental hypertension, and parental occupational status was superior in predicting hypertension compared with the approach using only data on childhood blood pressure levels (C statistics, 0.718 versus 0.733; P=0.0007). Inclusion of both parental hypertension history and data on novel genetic variants for hypertension further improved the C statistics (0.742; P=0.015)., Conclusions: Prediction of adult hypertension was enhanced by taking into account known physical and environmental childhood risk factors, family history of hypertension, and novel genetic variants. A multifactorial approach may be useful in identifying children at high risk for adult hypertension.

Background: Obesity in childhood is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. It is uncertain whether this risk is attenuated in persons who are overweight or obese as children but not obese as adults., Methods: We analyzed data from four prospective cohort studies that measured childhood and adult body-mass index (BMI, the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters). The mean length of follow-up was 23 years. To define high adiposity status, international age-specific and sex-specific BMI cutoff points for overweight and obesity were used for children, and a BMI cutoff point of 30 was used for adults., Results: Data were available for 6328 subjects. Subjects with consistently high adiposity status from childhood to adulthood, as compared with persons who had a normal BMI as children and were nonobese as adults, had an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (relative risk, 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4 to 8.5), hypertension (relative risk, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.2 to 3.3), elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (relative risk, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.3), reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (relative risk, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.8 to 2.5), elevated triglyceride levels (relative risk, 3.0; 95% CI, 2.4 to 3.8), and carotid-artery atherosclerosis (increased intima-media thickness of the carotid artery) (relative risk, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.2) (P ≤ 0.002 for all comparisons). Persons who were overweight or obese during childhood but were nonobese as adults had risks of the outcomes that were similar to those of persons who had a normal BMI consistently from childhood to adulthood (P>0.20 for all comparisons)., Conclusions: Overweight or obese children who were obese as adults had increased risks of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and carotid-artery atherosclerosis. The risks of these outcomes among overweight or obese children who became nonobese by adulthood were similar to those among persons who were never obese. (Funded by the Academy of Finland and others.).

Context: Obesity from childhood to adulthood is associated with adverse health later in life. Increased youth BMI is a risk factor for later obesity, but it is unknown whether identification of other risk factors, including recently discovered genetic markers, would help to identify children at risk of developing adult obesity., Objectives: Our objective was to examine the childhood environmental and genetic predictors of adult obesity., Design, Setting, and Participants: We followed 2119 individuals of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study for up to 27 yr since baseline (1980, age 3-18 yr)., Main Outcome Measure: We evaluated adult obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m(2)]., Results: The independent predictors (P < 0.05) of adult obesity included childhood BMI, C-reactive protein (CRP), family income (inverse), mother's BMI, and polymorphisms near genes TFAP2B, LRRN6C, and FLJ35579. A risk assessment based on childhood BMI, mother's BMI, and family income was superior in predicting obesity compared with the approach using data only on BMI (C-statistics 0.751 vs. 0.772, P = 0.0015). Inclusion of data on childhood CRP and novel genetic variants for BMI did not incrementally improve C-value (0.779, P = 0.16). A nonlaboratory risk score (childhood BMI, mother's BMI, and family income) predicted adult obesity in all age groups between 3-18 yr (P always <0.001)., Conclusions: Childhood BMI, CRP, family income (inversely), mother's BMI, and polymorphisms near genes FLJ35779, TFAP2B, and LRRN6C are independently related to adulthood obesity. However, because genetic risk markers and CRP only marginally improve the prediction, our results indicate that children at high risk of adult obesity can be identified using a simple non-laboratory-based risk assessment.

Objective: To examine how fitness in both childhood and adulthood is associated with adult obesity and insulin resistance., Research Design and Methods: A prospective cohort study set in Australia in 2004-2006 followed up a cohort of 647 adults who had participated in the Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey in 1985 and who had undergone anthropometry and cardiorespiratory fitness assessment during the survey. Outcome measures were insulin resistance and obesity, defined as a homeostasis model assessment index above the 75th sex-specific percentile and BMI >or=30 kg/m(2), respectively., Results: Lower levels of child cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with increased odds of adult obesity (adjusted odds ratio [OR] per unit decrease 3.0 [95% CI 1.6-5.6]) and insulin resistance (1.7 [1.1-2.6]). A decline in fitness level between childhood and adulthood was associated with increased obesity (4.5 [2.6-7.7]) and insulin resistance (2.1 [1.5-2.9]) per unit decline., Conclusions: A decline in fitness from childhood to adulthood, and by inference a decline in physical activity, is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood. Programs aimed at maintaining high childhood physical activity levels into adulthood may have potential for reducing the burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults.

Summary: Background: High birth weight or childhood overweight increases the risk of high carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) in childhood. However, no studies have assessed the association between change in weight status from birth to childhood and cIMT in childhood. Objectives: We examined the association between weight status change from birth to childhood and cIMT in childhood based on a population‐based study of Chinese children. Methods: Data were from the Huantai Childhood Cardiovascular Health Cohort Study. A total of 1307 primary school children aged 6–11 years were included. Children were categorized into four groups based on their weight status at birth and at childhood: persistently normal weight, weight loss, weight gain, and persistently high weight. Results: Compared with children with persistently normal weight from birth to childhood, those with weight gain (odds ratio [OR] = 6.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.36–10.76) and persistently high weight (OR = 5.78, 95% CI = 2.60–12.82) had increased odds of high cIMT in childhood. In contrast, children who had high birth weight but became normal weight in childhood did not have significantly increased odds of high cIMT in childhood (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.28–5.67). Conclusions: Overweight in childhood was associated with increased odds of high cIMT irrespective of birth weight status. The odds of high cIMT in childhood could be reversed if newborn with high birth weight become normal weight in childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Clusters of low fitness and high obesity in childhood are associated with poorer health outcomes in later life, however their relationship with cognition is unknown. Identifying such profiles may inform strategies to reduce risk of cognitive decline. This study examined whether specific profiles of childhood fitness and obesity were associated with midlife cognition.Design: Prospective study.Methods: In 1985, participants aged 7-15 years from the Australian Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study were assessed for fitness (cardiorespiratory, muscular power, muscular endurance) and anthropometry (waist-to-hip ratio). Participants were followed up between 2017 and 2019 (aged 39-50). Composites of psychomotor speed-attention, learning-working memory and global cognition were assessed using CogState computerised battery. Latent profile analysis was used to derive mutually exclusive profiles based on fitness and anthropometry. Linear regression analyses examined associations between childhood profile membership and midlife cognition adjusting for age, sex and education level.Results: 1244 participants were included [age: 44.4 ± 2.6 (mean ± SD) years, 53% female]. Compared to those with the highest levels of fitness and lowest waist-to-hip ratio, three different profiles characterised by combinations of poorer cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance and power were associated with lower midlife psychomotor-attention [up to -1.09 (-1.92, -0.26) SD], and lower global cognition [up to -0.71 (-1.41, -0.01) SD]. No associations were detected with learning-working memory.Conclusions: Strategies that improve low fitness and decrease obesity levels in childhood could contribute to improvements in cognitive performance in midlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical utility of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in predicting cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) and subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease remains controversial. We aimed to compare the utility of WHtR with waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) in identifying children and adolescents (youths) at risk for cardiometabolic outcomes, including clustered CMRFs, high carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and arterial stiffness (assessed as high pulse wave velocity, PWV). We analyzed data from 34,224 youths (51.0 % boys, aged 6–18 years) with CMRFs, 5004 (49.5 % boys, aged 6–18 years) with cIMT measurement, and 3100 (56.4 % boys, aged 6–17 years) with PWV measurement from 20 pediatric samples across 14 countries. WHtR, WC, and BMI z-scores had similar performance in discriminating youths with ≥3 CMRFs, with the area under the curve (AUC) (95 % confidence interval, CI)) ranging from 0.77 (0.75–0.78) to 0.78 (0.76–0.80) using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) definition, and from 0.77 (0.74–0.79) to 0.77 (0.74–0.80) using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition. Similarly, all three measures showed similar performance in discriminating youths with subclinical vascular outcomes, with AUC (95 % CI) ranging from 0.67 (0.64–0.71) to 0.70 (0.66–0.73) for high cIMT (≥P95 values) and from 0.60 (0.58–0.66) to 0.62 (0.58–0.66) for high PWV (≥P95 values). Our findings suggest that WHtR, WC, and BMI are equally effective in identifying at-risk youths across diverse pediatric populations worldwide. Given its simplicity and ease of use, WHtR could be a preferable option for quickly screening youths with increased cardiometabolic risk in clinical settings. • WHtR, WC, and BMI had similar performance in discriminating youths with ≥3 cardiometabolic risk factors. • WHtR, WC, and BMI also showed similar performance in discriminating youths with subclinical vascular outcomes. • A single adiposity index (WHtR, WC, or BMI) performed similarly well with the combined indices. • WHtR could be a preferable option for quickly screening youths with increased cardiometabolic risk in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: No studies have assessed the association between change in weight status and subclinical cardiovascular outcomes in children. Objective: To examine the association of change in weight status over 2 years with carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) among Chinese children. Methods: A total of 1184 children aged 6–11 years at baseline with complete data were included, and there were 1073 children after excluding those with cIMT ≥ sex‐ and age‐specific 90th percentile values at baseline. Overweight (including obesity) at baseline or follow‐up was defined by criteria for overweight and obesity for Chinese school‐aged children and adolescents. High cIMT at follow‐up was defined as cIMT ≥ age‐ and sex‐specific 90th percentile based on the study population at follow‐up. Results: Compared with children who were in persistent normal‐weight group, those in the incident or persistent overweight groups had higher cIMT change (incident overweight: β = 0.0149, p < 0.05; persistent overweight: β = 0.0068, p < 0.05) and had higher odds of high cIMT at follow‐up (incident overweight: odds ratio [OR] = 3.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.34–9.61; persistent overweight: OR = 13.41, 95% CI = 7.58–23.73). In contrast, there was no significant increase in cIMT change (β = 0.0106, p > 0.05) and odds of high cIMT (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 0.69–9.01) in the resolution group. Conclusion: Children who developed overweight or maintained overweight over 2 years had increased odds of high cIMT, whereas those able to resolve their overweight status had a similar odds of developing high cIMT in childhood at follow‐up. These findings highlight the potential role of managing weight status among children to preserve vascular health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the association between overweight/obesity and fatty liver index (FLI) on the odds of incident prediabetes/type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in 2020 participants after 10 years follow up. At baseline (in 2001) 2020 participants, males and females, aged 24–39 years, were stratified according to body mass index (BMI), normal weight (<25 kg/m2), overweight (≥25–<30 kg/m2), or obese (≥30 kg/m2) and FLI (as high FLI ≥60 or low FLI <60). We examined the incidence of prediabetes/type 2 diabetes and NAFLD (ultrasound assessed) over 10 years to 2011 to determine the relative impact of FLI and BMI. 514 and 52 individuals developed prediabetes and type 2 diabetes during follow-up. Such individuals were older, with higher BMI, serum glucose, insulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations than those who did not develop prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (n = 1454). The additional presence of high FLI significantly increased the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes above the risk of being overweight/obese. Compared with normal weight, low FLI participants, the odds of prediabetes were ∼2-fold higher and the odds of type 2 diabetes were 9–10-fold higher respectively in the overweight/obese, high FLI group. No difference was observed between normal weight, low FLI and overweight/obese and low FLI groups. An increased FLI significantly increases the odds of incident prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and NAFLD in individuals with overweight/obese highlighting the contributory role of liver fat accumulation in the pathophysiology of prediabetes/type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, NAFLD is more prevalent in people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes when compared to age- and BMI-matched individuals. The presence of a raised fatty liver index (FLI) confers a significantly increased risk of developing prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and NAFLD above that conferred by being overweight/obese. The degree of elevation of FLI can risk stratify for incident prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in people with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) performed similarly well when compared to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) for identifying cardiovascular risk factors. However, to our knowledge, the performance of these three adiposity indices for identifying left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular geometric (LVG) remodeling in youth has not been assessed. We aimed to determine the utility of BMI, WC and WHtR for identifying LVH and LVG in Chinese children. Methods: This study included 1,492 Chinese children aged 6-11 years. Adiposity indices assessed were BMI, WC and WHtR. LVH and high relative wall thickness (RWT) were defined using sex- and age-specific 90th percentile values of left ventricular mass index and RWT, respectively, based on the current population. LVG remodeling included concentric remodeling (CR), eccentric hypertrophy (EH) and concentric hypertrophy (CH), which was defined based on the combination of LVH and high RWT. Results: The magnitude of association of central obesity defined by WHtR with LVH [odds ratio (OR) =10.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) =6.66-15.29] was similar with general obesity defined by BMI (OR =10.49, 95% CI =6.97-15.80), and both were higher than central obesity defined by WC (OR =6.87, 95% CI =4.57-10.33). Compared with BMI, WHtR had better or similar predictive utility for identifying LVH, EH, and CH [the area under the curve (AUC): 0.84 vs. 0.79; 0.84 vs. 0.77; 0.87 vs. 0.88, respectively]; WC had worse or similar discriminatory utility with AUCs of 0.73, 0.70, 0.83, respectively. Conclusion: WHtR performed similarly or better than BMI or WC for identifying LVH and LVG remodeling among Chinese children. WHtR provides a simple and convenient measure of central obesity that might improve the discrimination of children with cardiac structural damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of thinness, overweight and obesity among Tibetan adolescents aged 12-17 years.Design: Cross-sectional survey.Setting: Shigatse City of Tibet municipality, with an average altitude of more than 4000 m.Participants: Study participants included 2642 adolescents aged 12-17 years selected from six schools using a convenient cluster sampling method.Results: The prevalence of thinness/overweight/obesity among Tibetan adolescents was 9·4 %/5·4 %/1·4 % (China definition), 14·7 %/4·4 %/0·7 % (International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) definition), and 2·8 %/5·7 %/0·9 % (WHO definition). The prevalence of thinness and overweight was significantly different between both sexes based on each of three BMI classification criteria (P < 0·001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of obesity between both sexes according to each of three BMI criteria. There was no clear trend in the prevalence of thinness across ages according to the China or IOTF definition (both P > 0·05), whereas an upward trend was observed for thinness in boys according to the IOTF definition (Pfor trend <0·05). In contrast, the prevalence of thinness tended to decrease with increasing age in girls according to the IOTF definition and in total sample according to the WHO definition (Pfor trend <0·05).Conclusions: Among Tibetan adolescents, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is relatively low, while the prevalence of thinness is high, especially in boys. These data suggest urgent attention is needed to control adolescent thinness in Tibet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Adiposity in childhood and adolescence (youth) has been shown to associate with adult metabolic health. What is not known, is whether youth body mass index (BMI) associates with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) in adulthood, and if so, the age when the BMI to MHO association emerges. This study aimed to determine if BMI trajectories from youth to adulthood differed between adults with MHO and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUHO). Methods The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study had measured weight and height up to eight times in individuals from youth (3–18 years in 1980) to adulthood (24–49 years). Adult MHO was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg m−2, normal fasting glucose (<5.6 mmol l−1), triglycerides (<1.695 mmol l−1), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (≥1.295 mmol l−1 females, ≥1.036 mmol l−1 males), blood pressure (<130/85 mmHg) and no medications for these conditions. BMI trajectories were compared for adults with MHO and MUHO using multilevel mixed models adjusted for age, sex and follow-up time. Results Mean (SD) follow-up time was 29 (3) years. Five hundred and twenty-four participants were obese in adulthood, 66 (12.6%) had MHO. BMI was similar through childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. BMI trajectories diverged at age 33, when individuals with MHO had at least 1.0 kg m−2 lower BMI than those with MUHO, significantly lower at 36 (−2.1 kg m−2, P = 0.001) and 42 years (−1.7 kg m−2; P = 0.005). Conclusion Adult MHO was characterized by lower adult BMI, not youth BMI. Preventing additional weight gain among adults who are obese may be beneficial for metabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: We aimed to determine how childhood body mass index and metabolic health, along with the change in body mass index between childhood and adulthood, determine the risk of adult non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: Data from 2020 participants aged 3‐18 years at baseline, followed up 31 years later, were examined to assess the utility of four childhood metabolic phenotypes (Metabolic Groups I: normal body mass index, no metabolic disturbances; II: normal body mass index, one or more metabolic disturbances; III: overweight/obese, no metabolic disturbances; IV: overweight/obese, one or more metabolic disturbances) and four life‐course adiposity phenotypes (Adiposity Group 1: normal child and adult body mass index; 2, high child, normal adult body mass index; 3, normal child body mass index, high adult body mass index; 4, high child and adult body mass index) in predicting adult non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. Results: The risk for adult non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease was similar across all four groups after adjustment for age, sex, lifestyle factors and adult body mass index. Risk of adult non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease was not increased among individuals overweight/obese in childhood but non‐obese in adulthood. In contrast, overweight or obese adults, irrespective of their youth body mass index status, had ~eight‐fold to 10‐fold increased risk (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Childhood overweight/obesity, not metabolic health, is associated with increased risk for adult non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the increased risk associated with childhood overweight/obesity can be largely removed by obtaining a normal body mass index by adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The relationship between life-course body mass index (BMI) trajectories and adult risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is poorly described. In a longitudinal cohort, we describe BMI trajectories from early childhood to adulthood and investigate their association with CVD risk factors [Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), high-risk lipid levels, hypertension, and high carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT)] in adulthood (34-49 years). Methods and results Six discrete long-term BMI trajectories were identified using latent class growth mixture modelling among 2631 Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study participants (6-49 years): stable normal (55.2%), resolving (1.6%), progressively overweight (33.4%), progressively obese (4.2%), rapidly overweight/obese (4.3%), and persistent increasing overweight/obese (1.2%). Trajectories of worsening or persisting obesity were generally associated with increased risk of CVD outcomes in adulthood (24-49 years) [all risk ratios (RRs) >15, P < 0.05 compared with the stable normal group]. Although residual risk for adult T2DM could not be confirmed [RR = 2.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.14-8.23], participants who resolved their elevated child BMI had similar risk for dyslipidaemia and hypertension as those never obese or overweight (all RRs close to 1). However, they had significantly higher risk for increased cIMT (RR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.80-6.39). Conclusion The long-term BMI trajectories that reach or persist at high levels associate with CVD risk factors in adulthood. Stabilizing BMI in obese adults and resolving elevated child BMI by adulthood might limit and reduce adverse cardiometabolic profiles. However, efforts to prevent child obesity might be most effective to reduce the risk for adult atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and cardio-metabolic risk factors in a large cohort of obese youth attending tertiary paediatric obesity services.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data were retrospectively collected from all new consultations of children and adolescents attending obesity outpatient clinics between 2008 and 2011 at the two major paediatric hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Information collected included demographics, anthropometry, blood pressure, pubertal staging, body composition and fasting serum levels of 25(OH)D, glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, liver function, calcium and phosphate.Results: 25(OH)D data were available in 229 patients (age 3-18 years; 116 men; mean (standard deviation) body mass index ( BMI) Z-score 2.5 (0.5) ). One hundred four (45%) participants were 25(OH)D deficient (<50 nmol/L). Lower serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with higher BMI Z-score (P-trend = 0.001), total fat mass (P-trend = 0.009), systolic (P-trend = 0.03) and diastolic blood pressures(P-trend = 0.009). In multivariable-adjusted regression analysis, 25(OH)D was significantly lower in those with elevated blood pressure after adjustment for BMI(P-trend = 0.004) or total fat mass (P-trend = 0.01).Conclusion: Overweight and obese youth attending specialist obesity services have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. In this population, lower levels of vitamin D were seen in those with greater adiposity, and independent of this, in those who had higher blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity may influence cardiovascular risk through their effects on inflammation. The long-term effects of these modifiable factors on adult inflammation remain uncertain. The associations of childhood and adulthood cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity with adult inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen] were examined. Methods 1,976 children examined in 1985 and re-examined as young adults in 2004-2006 were included. Cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity were assessed at both waves. CRP and fibrinogen were measured at follow-up. Results Higher childhood fitness was associated with lower adult inflammation in both sexes. After adjusting for childhood adiposity, the association with CRP attenuated in males, but remained in females (average reduction of CRP 18.1% (95% CI 11.3-24.4%) per 1-SD increase in childhood fitness). Higher adult fitness, adjusting for childhood fitness (an increase in fitness from childhood to adulthood), was associated with lower adult CRP in females and lower fibrinogen in males. Higher childhood and adulthood adiposity (an increase in adiposity from childhood to adulthood) were associated with higher adult inflammation in both sexes. Conclusions Prevention programs to increase fitness and reduce adiposity in childhood, and maintain a favorable fitness and weight into adulthood, may lead to reduction in adult systemic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background--Elevated blood pressure (BP) levels in childhood have been associated with subsequent atherosclerosis. However, it is uncertain whether this risk is attenuated in individuals who acquire normal BP by adulthood. The present study examined the effect of child and adult BP levels on carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in adulthood. Methods and Results--The cohort consisted of 4210 participants from 4 prospective studies (mean follow-up, 23 years). Childhood elevated BP was defined according to the tables from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program. In adulthood, BP was classified as elevated for individuals with systolic BP Si20 mmHg, diastolic BP ^80 mmHg or with self-reported use of antihypertensive medications. Carotid artery IMT was measured in the left common carotid artery. High IMT was defined as an IMT S90th percentile according to age-, sex-, race-, and cohort-specific levels. Individuals with persistently elevated BP and individuals with normal childhood BP, but elevated adult BP had increased risk of high carotid artery IMT (relative risk [95% confidence interval]) 1.82[1.47-2.38] and 1.57[1.22-2.02], respectively) in comparison with individuals with normal child and adult BP. In contrast, individuals with elevated BP as children but not as adults did not have significantly increased risk (1.24[0.92-1.67]). In addition, these individuals had a lower risk of increased carotid artery IMT (0.66[0.50-0.88]) in compared with those with persistently elevated BP. The results were consistent when controlling for age, sex, and adiposity and when different BP definitions were applied. Conclusions--Individuals with persistently elevated BP from childhood to adulthood had increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis. This risk was reduced if elevated BP during childhood resolved by adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of resolution from metabolic syndrome (MetS) between youth and adulthood on carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Background: Published findings demonstrate that youth with MetS are at increased risk of cardio-metabolic outcomes in adulthood. It is not known whether this risk is attenuated in those who resolve their MetS status. Methods: Participants (n = 1,757) from 2 prospective cohort studies were examined as youth (when 9 to 18 years of age) and re-examined 14 to 27 years later. The presence of any 3 components (low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglycerides, high glucose, high blood pressure, or high body mass index) previously shown to predict adult outcomes defined youth MetS; the harmonized MetS criteria defined adulthood MetS. Participants were classified according to their MetS status at baseline and follow-up and examined for risk of high IMT and T2DM. Results: Those with MetS in youth and adulthood were at 3.4 times the risk (95% confidence interval: 2.4 to 4.9) of high IMT and 12.2 times the risk (95% confidence interval: 6.3 to 23.9) of T2DM in adulthood compared with those that did not have MetS at either time-point, whereas those that had resolved their youth MetS status by adulthood showed similar risk to those that did not have MetS at either time-point (p > 0.20 for all comparisons). Conclusions: Although youth with MetS are at increased risk of adult high IMT and T2DM, these data indicate that the resolution of youth MetS by adulthood can go some way to normalize this risk to levels seen in those who have never had MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Arterial elasticity decreases with aging. We evaluated the role of conventional cardiovascular risk factors in this process and studied the modifying effect of gender in a population of young adults. Methods: 6-year follow-up study that included 1711 subjects (aged 32 ± 5 years) who had carotid artery distensibility (Cdist) measured at baseline (in 2001) and at follow-up (in 2007). Risk factors measurements included waist circumference, body mass index, lipids, glucose, C-reactive protein, smoking and family history of coronary disease. Results: In a multivariable model, baseline age (β ± SEM = −0.024 ± 0.003, P < 0.001), waist circumference (β ± SEM = −0.005 ± 0.002, P = 0.009) and insulin (β ± SEM = −0.097 ± 0.034, P = 0.005) were associated with 6-year change in Cdist. The 6-year increase in waist circumference (β ± SEM = −0.016 ± 0.003, P < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (β ± SEM = −0.005 ± 0.002, P = 0.006) were associated with reduced Cdist. In women, an increase in glucose was associated with reduced Cdist (β ± SEM = −0.074 ± 0.025, P = 0.004). Decreasing trend in Cdist levels was observed with increasing number of metabolic syndrome risk factors in women (P = 0.0001) but not in men (P = 0.18) (P for interaction 0.02). Conclusions: In addition to age, increased adiposity and insulin levels were strong predictors for impaired arterial elasticity. Moreover, our results suggest that arterial function in women may be more vulnerable to the atherogenic effects of hyperglycemia and increased risk factor burden compared to men in young adulthood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Childhood obesity is associated with cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), subclinical cardiovascular phenotypes (carotid intima-media thickness, cIMT; pulse-wave velocity, PWV; and carotid elasticity), and adult cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. In youth with obesity (body mass index, BMI ≥95th centile), we investigated associations between changes in adiposity and CVRF in early adolescence and subclinical cardiovascular phenotypes in late adolescence. Participants had adiposity measures (the severity of obesity in percentage >95th BMI-centile (%>95th BMI-centile)), waist circumference (WC), percentage total body fat (%BF) and CVRF (systolic blood pressure, SBP; glycoprotein acetyls, GlycA; and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) assessed in early (mean age 10.2 ± 3.5y) and late (15.7 ± 3.7y) adolescence. Subclinical cardiovascular phenotypes were assessed in late adolescence. Multivariable regression analysis was performed. Decreasing the %>95th BMI-centile was associated with carotid elasticity (0.945%/10 mmHg, p = 0.002) in females, and with PWV in males (−0.75 m/s, p < 0.001). Changes in all adiposity measures (per 1-unit increase) were associated with carotid elasticity (−0.020 to −0.063%/10 mmHg, p < 0.005), and PWV (0.011–0.045 m/s, p < 0.005). Changes in GlycA (per 50 μ mol-increase) were associated with elasticity (−0.162%/10 mmHg, p = 0.042), and changes in SBP (per 10 mmHg-increase) were associated with PWV (0.260 m/s, p < 0.001). Adjusted for change in BMI, the coefficient for GlycA was reduced by 46% and for SBP by 12%. Only male sex was associated with cIMT (+34 μ m, p = 0.006). In youth with obesity, decreasing or maintaining the severity of obesity, and decreasing the levels of SBP and GlycA from early to late adolescence was associated with low arterial stiffness. [Display omitted] • Small declines in adiposity associate with lower arterial stiffness in adolescence. • Changes in glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) associate with carotid elasticity in adolescents with obesity. • Changes in blood pressure associate with pulse-wave velocity in adolescents with obesity. • In adolescents with obesity, males had higher carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) than females. • Male sex was the only cardiovascular risk factor associated with arterial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Youth with high BMI who become nonobese adults have the same cardiovascular risk factor burden as those who were never obese. However, the early-life BMI trajectories for overweight or obese youth who avoid becoming obese adults have not been described. We aimed to determine and compare the young-childhood BMI trajectories of participants according to their BMI status in youth and adulthood. METHODS: Bayesian hierarchical piecewise regression modeling was used to analyze the BMI trajectories of 2717 young adults who had up to 8 measures of BMI from childhood (ages 3-18 years) to adulthood (ages 34-49 years). RESULTS: Compared with those with persistently high BMI, those who resolved their high youth BMI by adulthood had lower average BMI at age 6 years and slower rates of BMI change from young childhood. In addition, their BMI levels started to plateau at 16 years old for females and 21 years old for males, whereas the BMI of those whose high BMI persisted did not stabilize until 25 years old for male subjects and 27 years for female subjects. Compared with those youth who were not overweight or obese and who remained nonobese in adulthood, those who developed obesity had a higher BMI rate of change from 6 years old, and their BMI continued to increase linearly until age 30 years. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to alter BMI trajectories for adult obesity should ideally commence before age 6 years. The natural resolution of high BMI starts in adolescence for males and early adulthood for females, suggesting a critical window for secondary prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overweight/obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. However, transition probabilities, an essential component to develop cost-effective measures for weight management is lacking in this population. We estimated annual transition probabilities between three body mass index (BMI) categories: normal weight (BMI ≥18.5 and <25.0 kg/m2), overweight (BMI ≥25.0 and <30.0 kg/m2), and obesity (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2), among older adults aged ≥50 years in Ghana. Data were used from a nationally representative, multistage sample of 1496 (44.3% females) older adults in both Waves 1 (2007/8) and 2 (2014/15) of the Ghana WHO SAGE. A multistage Markov model was used to estimate annual transition probabilities. We further examined the impact of specific socio-economic factors on the transition probabilities. At baseline, 22.8% were overweight and 11.1% were obese. The annual transition probability was 4.0% (95% CI: 3.4%, 4.8%) from normal weight to overweight, 11.1% (95% CI: 9.5%, 13.0%) from overweight to normal weight and 4.9% (95% CI: 3.8%, 6.2%) from overweight to obesity. For obese individuals, the probability of remaining obese, transitioning to overweight and completely reverting to normal weight was 90.2% (95% CI: 87.7%, 92.3%), 9.2% (95% CI: 7.2%, 11.6%) and 0.6% (95% CI: 0.4%, 0.8%) respectively. Being female, aged 50–65 years, urban residence, having high education and high wealth were associated with increased probability of transitioning into the overweight or obese categories. Our findings highlight the difficulty in transitioning away from obesity, especially among females. The estimated transition probabilities will be essential in health economic simulation models to determine sustainable weight management interventions. • The study shows the annual chances of changing between body mass index categories. • Obese persons have 90% chances of remaining obese in a one-year period. • Our findings highlight the difficulty in transitioning away from obesity in Ghana. • Urban living and high wealth are linked to changes from normal weight to overweight. • Study estimates are vital for policy makers to amend weight management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]