Modeling BMI z score lability during childhood as a function of child temperament and genetic risk for obesity
Authors' conclusion
These findings provide insights into factors that can be harnessed to redirect unhealthy trajectories as well as factors that may challenge redirection or maintain a healthy trajectory.
Study context
- Population
- Adopted children (42% female; 56% Caucasian, 13% African American, 11% Latino, 20% other) and their birth and adoptive parents, followed from birth to age 9 years
- Participants
- 561 adopted children
- Outcome
- Level and lability of child BMI z scores over time in relation to genetic risk for obesity and temperament (negative affectivity, effortful control)
- Follow-up
- Birth to age 9 years
Methodological detailsmultilevel location-scale model
- Multilevel location-scale model
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
BMI z score lability (full sample) · across childhood
- Higher child negative affectivity associated with greater BMI z score lability
- Higher effortful control associated with less lability
- Higher mean-level BMI z score associated with less lability
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
BMI z score lability within healthy weight status group
- Better effortful control associated with more stable BMI z scores (healthy weight only)
- Genetic risk for higher BMI associated with more labile BMI z scores (healthy weight only)
Original publication
Modeling BMI z score lability during childhood as a function of child temperament and genetic risk for obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 19 September 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →