Background Research is needed to identify early life risk factors associated with different developmental paths leading to overweight by adolescence. Objectives To model heterogeneity in overweight development during middle childhood and identify factors associated with differing overweight trajectories. Methods Data was drawn from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD; 1998-2010). Trained research assistants measured height and weight according to a standardized protocol and conducted yearly home interviews with the child’s caregiver (mother in 98% of cases). Information on several putative early life risk factors for the development of overweight were obtained, including factors related to the child’s perinatal, early behavioral family and social environment. Group-based trajectories of the probability of overweight (6-12 years) were identified with a semiparametric method (n=1678). Logistic regression analyses were used to identify early risk factors (5 months- 5 years) associated with each trajectory. Results Three trajectories of overweight were identified: “early-onset overweight” (11.0 %), “late-onset overweight” (16.6%) and “never overweight” (72.5%). Multinomial analyses indicated that children in the early and late-onset group, compared to the never overweight group, had 3 common types of risk factors: parental overweight, preschool overweight history, and large size for gestational age. Maternal overprotection (OR= 1.12, CI: 1.01-1.25), short nighttime sleep duration (OR=1.66, CI: 1.07-2.57), and immigrant status (OR=2.01, CI: 1.05-3.84) were factors specific to the early-onset group. Finally, family food insufficiency (OR=1.81, CI: 1.00-3.28) was weakly associated with membership in the late-onset trajectory group. Conclusions The development of overweight in childhood follows two different trajectories, which have common and distinct risk factors that could be the target of early preventive interventions.
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada;Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal, Montreal, and University Laval, Quebec City, Canada;Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada;Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal, Montreal, and University Laval, Quebec City, Canada;Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada;Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Canada;Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal, Montreal, and University Laval, Quebec City, Canada;Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada;School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland;Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological, and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russian Federation;International Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Development, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada, and French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Paris, France;Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada;Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada;International Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Development, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada, and French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Paris, France;Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal, Montreal, and University Laval, Quebec City, Canada;Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada;Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal, Montreal, and University Laval, Quebec City, Canada;Department of Psychoeducation, University of Quebec in Trois Rivières, Trois Rivières, Quebec;National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) U669, Paris, France;Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal, Montreal, and University Laval, Quebec City, Canada;Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological, and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russian Federation;School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada;Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada;Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal, Montreal, and University Laval, Quebec City, Canada;Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada;Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological, and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russian Federation;International Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Development, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada, and French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Paris, France
Recommended Citation:
Laura E. Pryor,Mara Brendgen,Richard E. Tremblay,et al. Early Risk Factors of Overweight Developmental Trajectories during Middle Childhood[J]. PLOS ONE,2015-01-01,10(6)