Trajectory of Early Life Adiposity Among South Asian Children
Authors' conclusion
In this cohort study of South Asian children, 6 modifiable factors were associated with lower adiposity and combined into a single score. This score may be useful in clinical and public health settings to help mitigate childhood obesity in South Asian individuals and beyond.
Study context
- Population
- Mother-child pairs: South Asian (START, 2011–2015), White European (FAMILY, Ontario, Canada) and Born in Bradford (BiB) (Bradford, UK; 52% South Asian)START discovery cohort
- Participants
- 903 pairs
- Outcome
- Adiposity: sum of subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses (SSF), aggregated as total area under the growth curve (AUC for SSF)
- Follow-up
- Birth to 3 years
Methodological detailsdiscovery cohort (START) with validation cohorts (FAMILY, BiB)
- Discovery cohort (START) with validation cohorts (FAMILY, BiB)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Determinants of AUC for SSF (START)
- Maternal sum of skinfold thicknesses, β per 10 mm
- 0.80 (95% CI, 0.30-1.30)
- Gestational weight gain, β per 5 kg
- 0.38 (95% CI, 0.02-0.74)
- Health-conscious diet score, β per 1 SD
- −0.68 (95% CI, −1.26 to −0.10)
- Infant breastfeeding for the first year, β
- −1.68 (95% CI, −2.94 to −0.42)
- Physical activity, β per 30-min/d
- −0.33 (95% CI, −0.57 to −0.09)
- Screen time, β per 30-min/d
- 0.49 (95% CI, 0.18-0.81)
- 6 modifiable factors combined into a single score: direct, graded association with AUC for SSF
- P for trend < .001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Validation cohorts (FAMILY, BiB)
- Maternal BMI, breastfeeding and child physical activity replicated; combined, similar graded association with AUC for SSF
- P for trend < 0.001
Original publication
Trajectory of Early Life Adiposity Among South Asian Children. JAMA Netw Open. Published 1 April 2025. doi:10.
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