OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that most excess weight gain occurs by school entry in a large sample of English children, and to determine when the greatest gain in excess weight occurred between birth and 15 years. METHODS: Longitudinal data were collected annually from birth to 15 years in 625 children. Weight and BMI at each time point were expressed relative to UK 1990 growth reference as z scores. Excess weight gain was calculated as the group increase in weight and BMI z scores between specific time periods. RESULTS: Weight z score did not increase from birth to 5 years (mean difference: 0.04 [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.03-0.12] P = .30) but increased from 5 to 9 years (mean difference: 0.19 [95% CI: 0.14-0.23] P < .001). BMI z score increased from 7 to 9 years (mean difference: 0.22 [95% CI: 0.18-0.26] P < .001), with no evidence of a large increase before 7 years and after 9 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support the hypothesis that most excess weight gain occurs in early childhood in contemporary English children. Excess weight gain was substantial in mid-childhood, with more gradual increases in early childhood and adolescence, which indicates that interventions to prevent excess weight should focus on school-aged children and adolescents as well as the preschool years.
OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that most excess weight gain occurs by school entry in a large sample of English children, and to determine when the greatest gain in excess weight occurred between birth and 15 years. METHODS: Longitudinal data were collected annually from birth to 15 years in 625 children. Weight and BMI at each time point were expressed relative to UK 1990 growth reference as z scores. Excess weight gain was calculated as the group increase in weight and BMI z scores between specific time periods. RESULTS: Weight z score did not increase from birth to 5 years (mean difference: 0.04 [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.03-0.12] P = .30) but increased from 5 to 9 years (mean difference: 0.19 [95% CI: 0.14-0.23] P < .001). BMI z score increased from 7 to 9 years (mean difference: 0.22 [95% CI: 0.18-0.26] P < .001), with no evidence of a large increase before 7 years and after 9 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support the hypothesis that most excess weight gain occurs in early childhood in contemporary English children. Excess weight gain was substantial in mid-childhood, with more gradual increases in early childhood and adolescence, which indicates that interventions to prevent excess weight should focus on school-aged children and adolescents as well as the preschool years.
Authors: Debbie A Lawlor; Russell Jago; Sian M Noble; Catherine R Chittleborough; Rona Campbell; Julie Mytton; Laura D Howe; Tim J Peters; Ruth R Kipping Journal: Trials Date: 2011-07-24 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Philippa S Yam; Ryan Morrison; Viki Penpraze; Carri Westgarth; Dianne S Ward; Nanette Mutrie; Pippa Hutchison; David Young; John J Reilly Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-03-19 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Laura Basterfield; Jessica K Reilly; Mark S Pearce; Kathryn N Parkinson; Ashley J Adamson; John J Reilly; Stewart A Vella Journal: J Sci Med Sport Date: 2014-03-15 Impact factor: 4.319
Authors: Ryan Morrison; John J Reilly; Victoria Penpraze; Carri Westgarth; Dianne S Ward; Nanette Mutrie; Pippa Hutchison; David Young; Lindsay McNicol; Michael Calvert; Philippa S Yam Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-11-27 Impact factor: 3.295