Intergenerational change and familial aggregation of body mass index

Johnson, P.C.D. , Logue, J. , McConnachie, A. , Abu-Rmeileh, N.M.E., Hart, C. , Upton, M.N., Lean, M.E.J. , Sattar, N. and Watt, G. (2012) Intergenerational change and familial aggregation of body mass index. European Journal of Epidemiology, 27(1), pp. 53-61. (doi: 10.1007/s10654-011-9639-5)

Abstract

The relationship between parental BMI and that of their adult offspring, when increased adiposity can become a clinical issue, is unknown. We investigated the intergenerational change in body mass index (BMI) distribution, and examined the sex-specific relationship between parental and adult offspring BMI. Intergenerational change in the distribution of adjusted BMI in 1,443 complete families (both parents and at least one offspring) with 2,286 offspring (1,263 daughters and 1,023 sons) from the west of Scotland, UK, was investigated using quantile regression. Familial correlations were estimated from linear mixed effects regression models. The distribution of BMI showed little intergenerational change in the normal range (\25 kg/m2), decreasing overweightness (25– \30 kg/m2) and increasing obesity (C30 kg/m2). Median BMI was static across generations in males and decreased in females by 0.4 (95% CI: 0.0, 0.7) kg/m2; the 95th percentileincreased by 2.2 (1.1, 3.2) kg/m2 in males and 2.7 (1.4, 3.9) kg/m2 in females. Mothers’ BMI was more strongly associated with daughters’ BMI than was fathers’ (correlation coefficient (95% CI): mothers 0.31 (0.27, 0.36), fathers 0.19 (0.14, 0.25); P = 0.001). Mothers’ and fathers’ BMI were equally correlated with sons’ BMI (correlation coefficient: mothers 0.28 (0.22, 0.33), fathers 0.27 (0.22, 0.33). The increase in BMI between generations was concentrated at the upper end of the distribution. This, alongside the strong parent-offspring correlation, suggests that the increase in BMI is disproportionally greater among offspring of heavier parents. Familial influences on BMI among middle-aged women appear significantly stronger from mothers than fathers

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hart, Dr Carole and Lean, Professor Michael and Watt, Professor Graham and McConnachie, Professor Alex and Johnson, Dr Paul and Logue, Dr Jennifer and Upton, Dr Mark and Sattar, Professor Naveed
• Authors: Johnson, P.C.D., Logue, J., McConnachie, A., Abu-Rmeileh, N.M.E., Hart, C., Upton, M.N., Lean, M.E.J., Sattar, N., and Watt, G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: European Journal of Epidemiology
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0393-2990
• ISSN (Online): 1573-7284
• Published Online: 20 December 2012
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2012 Springer
• First Published: First published in European Journal of Epidemiology 27(1):53-61
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher