OBJECTIVE: Height has been inversely associated with cardiometabolic disease, with adiposity as the proposed contributor. Childhood represents a time when underlying metabolic pathways converge to determine growth. Although the extent to which influence is relevant, insulin, as a key growth signaling factor, likely provides key insight into mechanisms linking height and adiposity. Insulin concentration displays well-established sex and racial differences, with hyperinsulinemia more common among African Americans (AA) females relative to European Americans (EA). The objective of our study was to evaluate the relationship between height and adiposity in children. In addition, a secondary objective was to evaluate potential moderation by insulin concentration. DESIGN: Seventy-two pre-pubertal children aged 4-10 years (mu = 6.6 +/- .2) participated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percent fat was assessed by DXA and fasting insulin by serum assay. RESULTS: Height was positively associated with percent fat in the overall sample (P = .04). When evaluated according to age, an association was identified at age seven years (P = .02). When evaluated by sex, a positive relationship was apparent only in AA girls (P = .05). Inclusion of insulin in the model attenuated all significant associations, barring marginal significance in those aged seven years (P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: A positive relationship between height and adiposity is apparent, particularly among those in younger years, which is contrary to what has been consistently reported in adults. Interestingly, age seven years was identified as a point of race-associated divergence in body composition. The degree to which growth-related processes in childhood underlie developmental origins of health disparities warrants further study.
OBJECTIVE: Height has been inversely associated with cardiometabolic disease, with adiposity as the proposed contributor. Childhood represents a time when underlying metabolic pathways converge to determine growth. Although the extent to which influence is relevant, insulin, as a key growth signaling factor, likely provides key insight into mechanisms linking height and adiposity. Insulin concentration displays well-established sex and racial differences, with hyperinsulinemia more common among African Americans (AA) females relative to European Americans (EA). The objective of our study was to evaluate the relationship between height and adiposity in children. In addition, a secondary objective was to evaluate potential moderation by insulin concentration. DESIGN: Seventy-two pre-pubertal children aged 4-10 years (mu = 6.6 +/- .2) participated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percent fat was assessed by DXA and fasting insulin by serum assay. RESULTS: Height was positively associated with percent fat in the overall sample (P = .04). When evaluated according to age, an association was identified at age seven years (P = .02). When evaluated by sex, a positive relationship was apparent only in AA girls (P = .05). Inclusion of insulin in the model attenuated all significant associations, barring marginal significance in those aged seven years (P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: A positive relationship between height and adiposity is apparent, particularly among those in younger years, which is contrary to what has been consistently reported in adults. Interestingly, age seven years was identified as a point of race-associated divergence in body composition. The degree to which growth-related processes in childhood underlie developmental origins of health disparities warrants further study.
Authors: Lourdes Ibáñez; Abel Lopez-Bermejo; Marta Diaz; Maria Victoria Marcos; Francis de Zegher Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Simonetta Genovesi; Paolo Brambilla; Marco Giussani; Sara Galbiati; Silvana Mastriani; Federico Pieruzzi; Andrea Stella; Maria Grazia Valsecchi; Laura Antolini Journal: J Hypertens Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 4.844
Authors: Krista Casazza; Barbara A Gower; Amanda L Willig; Gary R Hunter; Joseph R Fernandez Journal: Pediatr Exerc Sci Date: 2009-02 Impact factor: 2.333
Authors: Minna K Salonen; Eero Kajantie; Clive Osmond; Tom Forsén; Hilkka Ylihärsilä; Maria Paile-Hyvärinen; D J P Barker; Johan G Eriksson Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-07-22 Impact factor: 3.240