Increased Adiposity and Low Height-for-Age in Early Childhood Are Associated With Later Metabolic Risks in American Indian Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Growth abnormalities in childhood have been related to later cardiometabolic risks, but little is known about these associations in populations at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Objectives: We examined the associations of patterns of growth, including weight and height at ages 1-59 months, with cardiometabolic risk factors at ages 5-16 years. Methods: We linked anthropometric data collected at ages 1-59 months to cardiometabolic data obtained from a longitudinal study in a southwestern American Indian population at high risk of diabetes. Analyses included 701 children with ≥1 follow-up examination at ages 5-16 years. We derived age- and sex-specific weight-for-height z-scores (WHZ) and height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) at ages 1-59 months. We selected the highest observed WHZ and the lowest observed HAZ at ages 1-59 months and analyzed associations of z-scores and categories of WHZ and HAZ with cardiometabolic outcomes at ages 5-16 years. We used linear mixed-effects models to account for repeated measures. Results: Overweight/obesity (WHZ >2) at ages 1-59 months was significantly associated with increased BMI, fasting and 2-hour postload plasma glucose, fasting and 2-hour insulin, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and decreased HDL cholesterol at ages 5-16 years relative to normal weight (WHZ ≤1). For example, at ages 5-9 years, 2-hour glucose was 10.4 mg/dL higher (95% CI: 5.6-15.3 mg/dL) and fasting insulin was 4.29 μU/mL higher (95% CI: 2.96-5.71 μU/mL) in those with overweight/obesity in early childhood. Associations were attenuated and no longer significant when adjusted for concurrent BMI. A low height-for-age (HAZ