Sex‐Specific Body Mass Index (BMI) Trajectories in Young People With Type 1 Diabetes: A 20‐Year Retrospective Regional Audit
Authors' conclusion
We observed sex-specific BMI trajectories in young people with T1D, with age at diagnosis exerting variable influences on BMI SDS trajectory in boys and girls. These findings support individualised T1D management strategies within multidisciplinary care.
Study context
- Population
- Young people with T1D, regional paediatric diabetes service in a mixed urban-rural region of New Zealand (June 2000-March 2021)56% male
- Participants
- 106 people
- Outcome
- BMI SDS trajectories from diagnosis, in association with demographic and clinical factors
Methodological details20-year retrospective audit, regional paediatric diabetes service
- 20-year retrospective audit
- Regional paediatric diabetes service
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Females: age at diagnosis modified association between diabetes duration and BMI SDS
- interaction p = 0.0009
- Girls diagnosed at 4.0 years (25th percentile): change in BMI SDS over first 5 years after diagnosis, not statistically significant
- −0.13 SDS (95% CI −0.32 to 0.06); p = 0.18
- Girls diagnosed at 9.5 years (75th percentile): increase in BMI SDS over first 5 years after diagnosis
- ≈0.39 SDS (0.08-0.70; p = 0.014)
- Males: increasing age at diagnosis associated with lower BMI SDS
- p < 0.0001
- Males: no statistically significant association of BMI SDS with diabetes duration
- p = 0.087
- Boys diagnosed at 11.1 years (75th percentile) vs 4.7 years (25th percentile): BMI SDS lower at any given duration
- ≈0.70 lower (95% CI −1.02 to −0.45; p < 0.0001)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Median follow-up
- 8.3 years [Q1 = 6.1, Q3 = 11.0; maximum 15.1 years]
- Median multidisciplinary clinic visits
- 21 [Q1 = 12, Q3 = 30; range 1-56 visits]
Original publication
Sex‐Specific BMI Trajectories in Young People With Type 1 Diabetes: A 20‐Year Retrospective Regional Audit. Pediatr Diabetes. Published 6 April 2026. doi:10.
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