effect of high birth weight on overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. A cohort study in China

ABSTRACT

To determine the association of high birth weight [HBW] with the risk of obesity in childhood and adolescence. We also aimed to explore the interactions of HBW with physical activity and dietary habits. In a birth cohort born in 1993, 1994, and 1995 in Wuxi, China, subjects with a birth weight [BW] of >/= 4000 g were selected as the exposed group. For each exposed subject, one non-exposed subject with a BW of 2500-3999 g, matched by year of birth, gender, and type of institute at birth was chosen. Two follow-ups were performed from October 2005 to February 2007 and July 2010 to December 2011. A total of 1108 exposed and 1128 non-exposed subjects were included. Overweight/obesity rates were significantly higher in the exposed group [16.2% in childhood and 14.2% in adolescence] than those in the non-exposed group [12.1% in childhood and 8.2% in adolescence]. There was no significant interaction between BW and the growth period [F=2.10, p=0.147]. The relative excess risk due to interaction [RERI] of HBW with physical activity was -0.20 [95% CI=-2.85-2.45], and the RERI of HBW with dietary habits was 1.19 [95% CI=0.14-2.23]. Infants with HBW are at increased risk of childhood and adolescent overweight/obesity, and this relationship is not influenced by the growth period. There is an additive interaction between HBW and dietary habits