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Birth weight, biological maturation and obesity in adolescents: a mediation analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2017

A. O. Werneck*
Affiliation:
Study and Research Group in Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise – GEPEMENE, State University of Londrina – UEL, Londrina, Brazil
D. R. P. Silva
Affiliation:
Study and Research Group in Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise – GEPEMENE, State University of Londrina – UEL, Londrina, Brazil
P. J. Collings
Affiliation:
Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
R. A. Fernandes
Affiliation:
Scientific Research Group Related to Physical Activity (GICRAF), Laboratory of Investigation in Exercise (LIVE). Department of Physical Education. São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, Brazil
E. R. V. Ronque
Affiliation:
Study and Research Group in Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise – GEPEMENE, State University of Londrina – UEL, Londrina, Brazil
M. J. Coelho-e-Silva
Affiliation:
CIDAF (uid/dtp/04213/2016). University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
L. B. Sardinha
Affiliation:
Exercise and Health Laboratory, CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz-Quebrada, Portugal
E. S. Cyrino
Affiliation:
Study and Research Group in Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise – GEPEMENE, State University of Londrina – UEL, Londrina, Brazil
*
*Address for correspondence: A. O. Werneck, Physical Education Department, Londrina State University, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, Campus Universitário, Londrina, Paraná 86051-990, Brazil. (Email [email protected])

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate associations between birth weight and multiple adiposity indicators in youth, and to examine potential mediating effects by biological maturation. This was a school-based study involving 981 Brazilian adolescents aged between 10 and 17 years. Birth weight was reported retrospectively by mothers. Maturation was estimated by age of peak height velocity. Adiposity indicators included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and percent body fat estimated from triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Multilevel mediation analyses were performed using the Sobel test, adjusted for chronological age, gestational age, cardiorespiratory fitness and socio-economic status. Except for body fat in girls, biological maturation partly or fully mediated (P<0.05) positive relationships between birth weight with all other obesity indicators in both sexes with their respective values of indirect effects with 95% confidence intervals: BMI [boys: 0.44 (0.06–0.82); girls: 0.38 (0.13–0.64)], waist circumference [boys: 1.14 (0.22–2.05); girls: 0.87 (0.26–1.48)] and body fat [boys: 0.60 (0.13–1.07)]. To conclude, birth weight is associated with elevated obesity risk in adolescence and biological maturation seems to at least partly mediate this relationship.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2017 

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