Effect of abdominal obesity in childhood on abdominal obesity in adulthood

Objective To examine the effect of childhood abdominal obesity on abdominal obesity in adulthood. Methods Based on data from the "China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS)" 1993-2011, the participants who were followed up at least once in childhood (7-17 years old) and adulthood (≥18 years old) were the potential eligible ones for the inclusion. The first follow- up data in childhood and the last follow-up data in adulthood were finally included in this study, and there were 1 366 participants (males: 61.4%). Partial correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation of waist circumference in childhood with adult waist circumference. Cox regression model was used to examine the effect of abdominal obesity in childhood on abdominal obesity in adulthood. Results The median follow-up of this cohort was 10.4 years. 36.4% (28/77) of children with abdominal obesity remained abdominally obese in adulthood. The coefficient of partial correlation was moderate for association of childhood waist circumference with adult waist circumference (r=0.32, P<0.001). The risk of abdominal obesity in adulthood was significantly increased in abdominal obese children (HR=7.54, 95%CI: 4.91-11.58) compared with children with normal waist circumference. Conclusion Children with abdominal obesity significantly increases the risk of abdominal obesity in adulthood. Key words: Obesity; Waist circumference; Childhood; Adulthood