Common predictors of excessive adiposity in children from a region with high prevalence of overweight.

AIM

To identify risk factors other than energy intake or expenditure that can predict adiposity and overweight in children from a region with high prevalence of obesity.

METHODS

We studied 551 children aged 6-12 years (50.5% girls) from a city in the North of Mexico. Tetrapolar bioimpedance was used to assess body fat content. Overweight was estimated by analysis of age- and gender-standardized body mass index (BMI) relative to reference data of the International Obesity Task Force (BMIs that predict obesity in adulthood). Multivariate analyses were modeled to find independent predictors of adiposity.

RESULTS

The frequency of overweight/obesity was 37.6%. There were no differences between genders with respect to weight, height and BMI; however, age-standardized percentage of body fat and a sedentary lifestyle were higher in girls than in boys (p < 0.001). Independent predictors of overweight/obesity were having first-degree relatives with obesity [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40-3.64], sedentary lifestyle (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.05-2.37) and being the third child or younger in offspring (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.02-2.47). Predictors of body fat in the highest quartile of the sample were having first-degree relatives with obesity (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.41-4.74), female gender (OR 5.60, 95% CI 3.22-9.77) and being the third child or younger in offspring (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.22-3.51). These effects could not be explained by social class, ethnicity, maternal age and duration of breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors easily identified by history-taking can predict childhood adiposity and the high risk of obesity in adulthood. Having a first-degree relative with obesity underscores the impact of genes and the family lifestyle on excessive adiposity. Being the third child or younger may denote different nurture practices in offspring; however, this factor deserves more exploration.