Population trajectories and age‐dependent associations of obesity risk factors with body mass index from childhood to adolescence across European regions: A two‐cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Whilst population trajectories of media use and nocturnal sleep duration are similar across European regions, those of other behavioural risk factors like active transport and daily vegetable consumption differ. Also, associations between behavioural risk factors and BMI become stronger with age and show similar patterns across regions.
Study context
- Population
- Children from the European multi-centre IDEFICS/I.Family cohort (aged 2.0–9.9 years at baseline) and the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development Cohort (aged 5.0–7.5 years at baseline), followed until age 18 years
- Participants
- 14,328 children2 cohorts
- Exposure
- Northern Europe vs Southern Europe vs Eastern Europe vs Amsterdam
- Northern Europen = 4,114
- Southern Europen = 4,582
- Eastern Europen = 3,220
- Amsterdamn = 2,412
- Outcome
- Population trajectories of behavioural obesity risk factors (diet, physical activity, media use, sleep) and their associations with BMI
- Follow-up
- Childhood to adolescence
Methodological detailstwo harmonised cohorts, multi-centre, longitudinal, mixed effects models
- Two harmonised cohorts
- Multi-centre
- Longitudinal
- Mixed effects models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Risk factor means and prevalences changed with age; trajectories mostly similar across regions
- Almost no associations between behavioural factors and body mass index (BMI) at age 6 years
- At 11 years, daily sugar-sweetened foods consumption, active transport, sports club membership and longer nocturnal sleep negatively associated with BMI in most regions; media use positively associated
- Most associations at 11 years persisted to 15 years
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Population trajectories and age‐dependent associations of obesity risk factors with body mass index from childhood to adolescence across European regions: A two‐cohort study. Pediatr Obes. Published 25 December 2023. doi:10.
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