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Birth weight and growth from infancy to late adolescence in relation to fat and lean mass in early old age: findings from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development

Birth weight and growth from infancy to late adolescence in relation to fat and lean mass in early old age: findings from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development
Birth weight and growth from infancy to late adolescence in relation to fat and lean mass in early old age: findings from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development
Objective: High birth weight and greater weight gain in infancy have been associated with increased risk of obesity as assessed using body mass index, but few studies have examined associations with direct measures of fat and lean mass. This study examined associations of birth weight and weight and height gain in infancy, childhood and adolescence with fat and lean mass in early old age.

Subjects: A total of 746 men and 812 women in England, Scotland and Wales from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development whose heights and weights had been prospectively ascertained across childhood and adolescence and who had dual energy X-ray absorptiometry measures at age 60–64 years.

Methods: Associations of birth weight and standardised weight and height (0–2 (weight only), 2–4, 4–7, 7–11, 11–15, 15–20 years) gain velocities with outcome measures were examined.

Results: Higher birth weight was associated with higher lean mass and lower android/gynoid ratio at age 60–64 years. For example, the mean difference in lean mass per 1 standard deviation increase in birth weight was 1.54?kg in males (95% confidence interval=1.04, 2.03) and 0.78?kg in females (0.41, 1.14). Greater weight gain in infancy was associated with higher lean mass, whereas greater gains in weight in later childhood and adolescence were associated with higher fat and lean mass, and fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios. Across growth intervals greater height gain was associated with higher lean but not fat mass, and with lower fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that growth in early life may have lasting effects on fat and lean mass. Greater weight gain before birth and in infancy may be beneficial by leading to higher lean mass, whereas greater weight gain in later childhood and adolescence may be detrimental by leading to higher fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios.
abdominal obesity, growth, birth weight, body composition, muscle mass
0307-0565
69-75
Bann, D.
dcbb5a9b-84f7-45dc-ac74-04250f444f0e
Wills, A.K.
a49cf0bc-8fe1-4672-8ff2-da46760d2059
Cooper, R.
6cd7b578-a1fa-4511-bc7d-9addc4baf372
Hardy, R.
b3f0f66e-4cda-4e9a-aca1-955f7ecdd132
Aihie Sayer, A.
fb4c2053-6d51-4fc1-9489-c3cb431b0ffb
Adams, J.
7fcea361-9276-416e-8f44-511d48b84827
Kuh, D.
6c5d95a4-433d-4895-bd95-86a7d5fe76a5
Bann, D.
dcbb5a9b-84f7-45dc-ac74-04250f444f0e
Wills, A.K.
a49cf0bc-8fe1-4672-8ff2-da46760d2059
Cooper, R.
6cd7b578-a1fa-4511-bc7d-9addc4baf372
Hardy, R.
b3f0f66e-4cda-4e9a-aca1-955f7ecdd132
Aihie Sayer, A.
fb4c2053-6d51-4fc1-9489-c3cb431b0ffb
Adams, J.
7fcea361-9276-416e-8f44-511d48b84827
Kuh, D.
6c5d95a4-433d-4895-bd95-86a7d5fe76a5

Bann, D., Wills, A.K., Cooper, R., Hardy, R., Aihie Sayer, A., Adams, J. and Kuh, D. (2014) Birth weight and growth from infancy to late adolescence in relation to fat and lean mass in early old age: findings from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. International Journal of Obesity, 38 (1), 69-75. (doi:10.1038/ijo.2013.115). (PMID:23779050)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective: High birth weight and greater weight gain in infancy have been associated with increased risk of obesity as assessed using body mass index, but few studies have examined associations with direct measures of fat and lean mass. This study examined associations of birth weight and weight and height gain in infancy, childhood and adolescence with fat and lean mass in early old age.

Subjects: A total of 746 men and 812 women in England, Scotland and Wales from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development whose heights and weights had been prospectively ascertained across childhood and adolescence and who had dual energy X-ray absorptiometry measures at age 60–64 years.

Methods: Associations of birth weight and standardised weight and height (0–2 (weight only), 2–4, 4–7, 7–11, 11–15, 15–20 years) gain velocities with outcome measures were examined.

Results: Higher birth weight was associated with higher lean mass and lower android/gynoid ratio at age 60–64 years. For example, the mean difference in lean mass per 1 standard deviation increase in birth weight was 1.54?kg in males (95% confidence interval=1.04, 2.03) and 0.78?kg in females (0.41, 1.14). Greater weight gain in infancy was associated with higher lean mass, whereas greater gains in weight in later childhood and adolescence were associated with higher fat and lean mass, and fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios. Across growth intervals greater height gain was associated with higher lean but not fat mass, and with lower fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that growth in early life may have lasting effects on fat and lean mass. Greater weight gain before birth and in infancy may be beneficial by leading to higher lean mass, whereas greater weight gain in later childhood and adolescence may be detrimental by leading to higher fat/lean and android/gynoid ratios.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 16 July 2013
Published date: January 2014
Keywords: abdominal obesity, growth, birth weight, body composition, muscle mass
Organisations: Faculty of Medicine

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 361680
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/361680
ISSN: 0307-0565
PURE UUID: 1a16e91d-73b1-4371-9ff2-9d0b0b7f2c23

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Date deposited: 29 Jan 2014 17:20
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 15:54

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Contributors

Author: D. Bann
Author: A.K. Wills
Author: R. Cooper
Author: R. Hardy
Author: A. Aihie Sayer
Author: J. Adams
Author: D. Kuh

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