Risk for obesity in adolescence starts in early childhood

Objective:the objective of this study was to assess the predictive value of body mass index (bmi) at earlier ages on risk of overweight/obesity at age of 11 years.study design:this is a longitudinal study of 907 children from birth to age of 11 years. predictors include bmi at earlier ages and outcome is overweight/obesity status at age of 11 years. analyses were adjusted for covariates known to affect bmi.result:at 11 years, 17% were overweight and 25% were obese. children whose bmi was measured as⩾85th percentile once at preschool age had a twofold risk for overweight/obesity at 11 years of age. risk increased by 11-fold if a child's bmi measured was noted more than once during this age. during early elementary years, if a child's bmi was>85th percentile once, risk for overweight/obesity at 11 years was fivefold and increased by 72-fold if noted more than two times. during late elementary years, if a child's bmi was>85th percentile once, risk for overweight/obesity was 26-fold and increased by 351-fold if noted more than two times. risk of overweight/obesity at 11 years was noted with higher maternal prepregnancy weight, higher birth weight, female gender and increased television viewing.conclusion:children in higher bmi categories at young ages have a higher risk of overweight/obesity at 11 years of age. effect size was greater for measurements taken closer to 11 years of age. pediatricians need to identify children at-risk for adolescent obesity and initiate counseling and intervention at earlier ages.