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ABSTRACT: Objective
We aimed to assess the trends in body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) from the age of 13 to 17 years and to evaluate how sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics at the age of 13 impact changes in BMI and BF%.Setting
Porto, Portugal.Participants
We evaluated 1451 adolescents in a community-based cohort.Outcome measures
BMI z-scores were calculated according to CDC references. BF% was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. Variables with a significant effect in adiposity changes were identified through linear regression models. In girls, estimates were controlled for duration of follow-up, parental education, baseline BMI z-score, age at menarche and the interaction term baseline BMI z-score×age at menarche; in boys, adjustments were performed for duration of follow-up, parental education, baseline BMI z-score and the interaction term baseline BMI z-score×duration of follow-up.Results
On average, BMI z-score decreased from the age of 13 to 17 years (mean difference -0.20, 95% CI -0.23 to -0.16 among girls and -0.15, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.11 among boys). Accordingly, 12.4% of girls and 13% of boys moved to a lower BMI category and 2.2% of girls and 5.5% of boys to a higher category. There were sex differences in the significant determinants of adiposity trends. Among girls, BMI z-score significantly decreased with baseline BMI z-score (β=-0.163, 95% CI -0.204 to -0.122) and significantly increased with age at menarche (β=0.078, 95% CI 0.050 to 0.107). Results were similar for BF%. Among boys, BMI z-score significantly increased with higher parental BMI, and BF% decreased among those who wished to look larger at the age of 13 (β=-1.367, 95% CI -2.174 to -0.560), compared with those who were satisfied with their image.Conclusions
In adolescents, ageing resulted in a decrease in BMI z-scores and BF%. BMI and BF% at the age of 13 were the major determinants of the observed trends. Our results suggest that adolescence is a possible specific time window for intervention.
SUBMITTER: Araujo J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4067831 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Araújo Joana J Barros Henrique H Severo Milton M Lopes Carla C Ramos Elisabete E
BMJ open 20140610 6
<h4>Objective</h4>We aimed to assess the trends in body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) from the age of 13 to 17 years and to evaluate how sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics at the age of 13 impact changes in BMI and BF%.<h4>Setting</h4>Porto, Portugal.<h4>Participants</h4>We evaluated 1451 adolescents in a community-based cohort.<h4>Outcome measures</h4>BMI z-scores were calculated according to CDC references. BF% was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. Variables ...[more]