Title
The relationship between the development of overweight and cognitive functioning at young adulthood: Abstract
Author
de Kroon, M.L.A.
Sisay Awoke, T.
Almansa Ortiz, J.
van Buuren, S.
Reijneveld, S.A.
Publication year
2019
Abstract
Background and aims. Evidence on the association between BMI increase in early life and cognitive functioning in later life is scarce and inconsistent; this also regards the causal pathways. We assessed the associations of individual BMI trajectories from birth until age 19 with cognitive functioning in young adulthood. Second, we studied whether this association was affected by the developmental potential in early life. Methods. A longitudinal cohort study design was applied using data (n=1,816) from the Dutch Tracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS)-cohort. Participants had about 16 BMI measurements between 0-19 years. By linear spline multilevel models we estimated the BMI growth velocities for six age intervals: 0–3 months, 3 months–1 year, and 1–3, 3–7, 7–10, and 10–19 years. At age 19, cognitive functioning was measured by the Verbal Learning Test, Complex Figure Test, and the WAIS-III Digit Span and Block design subtests. Developmental potential in early life was approximated by a composite developmental (D-)score based on the Dutch Van Wiechen scores at age 15 months. Results. Significant negative relationships were found of BMI increase in early childhood (1-3 years) with verbal memory (β -0.82, SE 0.30), digit memory (β -1.45, SE 0.33), and executive functioning (β -5.02, SE 1.72), and of BMI increase in late childhood (3-7 years) with digit memory (β -1.67, SE 0.60). A positive relationship was found of BMI increase in late infancy (3-12 months) with digit memory (β 0.18, SE 0.07). Adjustment for the D-score did not affect the associations. Conclusion(s) with key message. Between 1-7 years of age, BMI increases showed negative relationships with cognitive outcomes at age 19; before age 1 a positive relationship was found with digit memory. The associations were independent of developmental potential, suggesting causality and not reverse causality. For an optimal cognitive development, BMI SDS increase after the age of 1 year should be prevented. Statement. Preventive child health care professionals should put even more emphasis on the primary prevention of overweight, especially between 1 and 7 years of age. A first step could be to share these new insights with parents.
Subject
Life
CH - Child Health
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Healthy for Life
Healthy Living
Children
Health
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b55f96ae-15bd-444b-ad50-7378768d8fa0
TNO identifier
869482
Publisher
European Union for School and University Health and Medicine (EUSUHM), Rotterdam
Source
Youth Health Care in Europe: Changing contexts Influencing youth and their surroundings, 20th European Union for School and University Health and Medicine (EUSUHM) 11-13 September Rotterdam, Netherland, 19-20
Document type
conference paper