Rebeccah L Sokol1, Nisha C Gottfredson2, Jennifer M Poti3, Meghan E Shanahan4, Carolyn T Halpern4, Edwin B Fisher2, Susan T Ennett2. 1. Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Electronic address: rlsokol@umich.edu. 2. Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 3. Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 4. Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Although previous research has suggested a positive association between child maltreatment and BMI over the life course, it is unclear when this develops. METHODS: The authors used time-varying effect models and data from a nationally representative, longitudinal, cohort study (Add Health), to test how childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse uniquely varied in associations with BMI from age 13 to 28 years, and whether different patterns existed for male and female participants. Add Health collected data from 1994 to 2008, and the present analyses took place in 2018. RESULTS: Age 18 years was the earliest that a relationship between maltreatment and BMI emerged for either sex. Child sexual abuse was negatively associated with BMI among male participants from 18.5 to 20 years, but positively associated with BMI among female participants from 19 to 24.5 years, and childhood emotional abuse was positively associated with BMI among female participants from 18 to 28 years. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between child maltreatment and BMI varies as a function of type of maltreatment, sex, and time. Notably, associations between maltreatment and BMI did not emerge until young adulthood. Future research should investigate mechanisms by which the association between maltreatment and BMI changes over time to identify trauma-informed intervention targets for improving weight outcomes.
INTRODUCTION: Although previous research has suggested a positive association between child maltreatment and BMI over the life course, it is unclear when this develops. METHODS: The authors used time-varying effect models and data from a nationally representative, longitudinal, cohort study (Add Health), to test how childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse uniquely varied in associations with BMI from age 13 to 28 years, and whether different patterns existed for male and female participants. Add Health collected data from 1994 to 2008, and the present analyses took place in 2018. RESULTS: Age 18 years was the earliest that a relationship between maltreatment and BMI emerged for either sex. Childsexual abuse was negatively associated with BMI among male participants from 18.5 to 20 years, but positively associated with BMI among female participants from 19 to 24.5 years, and childhood emotional abuse was positively associated with BMI among female participants from 18 to 28 years. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between child maltreatment and BMI varies as a function of type of maltreatment, sex, and time. Notably, associations between maltreatment and BMI did not emerge until young adulthood. Future research should investigate mechanisms by which the association between maltreatment and BMI changes over time to identify trauma-informed intervention targets for improving weight outcomes.
Authors: Maxia Dong; Wayne H Giles; Vincent J Felitti; Shanta R Dube; Janice E Williams; Daniel P Chapman; Robert F Anda Journal: Circulation Date: 2004-09-20 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Rebeccah L Sokol; Susan T Ennett; Meghan E Shanahan; Nisha C Gottfredson; Jennifer M Poti; Carolyn T Halpern; Edwin B Fisher Journal: Child Abuse Negl Date: 2019-07-16