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Developmental trajectories of body mass index and emotional-behavioral functioning of underweight children: A longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT: Although several studies have addressed developmental trajectories from childhood to adolescence of internalizing/externalizing problems, limited attention has been given to underweight children. Two groups were recruited for this study from a community sample: underweight (Ug, N?=?80, 50% female) and normal weight (NWg, N?=?80, 50% female) to examine the developmental trajectories of body mass index and emotional-behavioral functioning of underweight children from the age two years, and their risk of eating disorder at early adolescence. The study was organized over four waves, each of three years. Pediatricians measured BMI, parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Eating Disorders Inventory-Referral Form (EDI-3-RF). Our results showed that children in the two groups recorded different BMI trajectories over time. In NWg, male and female subjects started from a higher BMI at T1 than their peers. In Ug, internalizing and externalizing problems in males and females remained higher than their peers at all points of assessment. Males and females in Ug scored higher than those in NWg on EDI-3-RF total score. Our results indicate a need for effective physical and psychological assessment of underweight children in community samples to prevent psychological difficulties and eating disorders in adolescence.

SUBMITTER: Cimino S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4726243 | biostudies-other | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Developmental trajectories of body mass index and emotional-behavioral functioning of underweight children: A longitudinal study.

Cimino Silvia S Cerniglia Luca L Almenara Carlos A CA Jezek Stanislav S Erriu Michela M Tambelli Renata R

Scientific reports 20160125

Although several studies have addressed developmental trajectories from childhood to adolescence of internalizing/externalizing problems, limited attention has been given to underweight children. Two groups were recruited for this study from a community sample: underweight (Ug, N = 80, 50% female) and normal weight (NWg, N = 80, 50% female) to examine the developmental trajectories of body mass index and emotional-behavioral functioning of underweight children from the age two years, and their r ...[more]

PMID: 26806123

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Project description:BackgroundA single measure that distills complex body mass index (BMI) trajectories into one value could facilitate otherwise complicated analyses. This study creates and assesses the validity of such a measure: average excess BMI.MethodsWe use data from Waves I-IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 17,669). We calculate average excess BMI by integrating to find the area above a healthy BMI trajectory and below each subject-specific trajectory and divide this value by total study time. To assess validity and utility, we (1) evaluate relationships between average excess BMI from adolescence to adulthood and adult chronic conditions, (2) compare associations and fit to models using subject-specific BMI trajectory parameter estimates as predictors, and (3) compare associations to models using BMI trajectory parameter estimates as outcomes.ResultsAverage excess BMI from adolescence to adulthood is associated with increased odds of hypertension (OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.47, 1.67), hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.47), and diabetes (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.47, 1.67). The odds associated with average excess BMI are higher than the odds associated with the BMI intercept, linear, or quadratic slope. Correlations between observed and predicted health outcomes are slightly lower for some models using average excess BMI as the focal predictor compared to those using BMI intercept, linear, and quadratic slope. When using trajectory parameters as outcomes, some co-variates associate with the intercept, linear, and quadratic slope in contradicting directions.ConclusionsThis study supports the utility of average excess BMI as an outcome. The higher an individual's average excess BMI from adolescence to adulthood, the greater their odds of chronic conditions. Future studies investigating longitudinal BMI as an outcome should consider using average excess BMI, whereas studies that conceptualize longitudinal BMI as the predictor should continue using traditional latent growth methods.

Dataset Information

Developmental trajectories of body mass index and emotional-behavioral functioning of underweight children: A longitudinal study.

Publications

Developmental trajectories of body mass index and emotional-behavioral functioning of underweight children: A longitudinal study.

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