Association of Birthweight with Overweight, Obesity, and Blood Pressure among Adolescents

Abstract

We investigated the association of birthweight with overweight, obesity, and blood pressure (BP) among adolescents. This cross-sectional study included 857 participants aged 11–17 years from Liangshan, southwest China. Birthweight information was collected from the participants’ parents. The participants’ height, weight, and BP were measured. High birthweight was defined as a value greater than the sex-specific upper quartile. Participants were classified into four groups based on their weight change at birth and adolescence: normal weight at both time points, weight loss, weight gain, and high weight at both time points. High birthweight was positively associated with overweight and obesity in adolescence [odds ratio (95% confidence interval), OR (95% CI): 1.93 (1.33, 2.79)]. Compared with participants with normal weight at both time points, those with high weight at both time points were more likely to have elevated BP in adolescence (OR [95% CI]: 3.02 [1.65, 5.53]), while those with weight loss had similar odds of elevated BP. The sensitivity analysis results did not change significantly when high birthweight was defined alternatively as birthweight > 4 kg. This study showed that the association between high birthweight and elevated BP in adolescence is influenced by current weight.