Three simple factors that predict whether a healthy weight child will be overweight or obese by adolescence have been revealed in a new study.

The research shows three factors — a child’s and mother’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and the mother’s education level — predict the onset or resolution of weight problems by adolescence, especially from age 6-7 years onwards.

Each one-unit higher BMI when the child is aged 6-7 years increased the odds at 14-15 years of developing weight problems by three-fold and halved the odds of resolution.

Similarly, every one-unit increase in the mother’s BMI when the child is aged 6-7 years increased the odds at 14-15 years of developing weight problems by 5 per cent and decreased the odds of resolution by about 10 per cent.

Mothers having a university degree was associated with lower odds of a child being overweight and obese at ages 2-5 years and higher odds of resolving obesity issues by adolescence.

Study author MCRI’s Dr Kate Lycett said the prevalence of being overweight/obese at the age of 14-15 years was 13 per cent among children with none of these three risk factors at age 6-7 years, compared with 71 per cent among those with all risk factors.

Story Source:
Materials provided by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.