The association between the timing, intensity and magnitude of adolescent growth and body composition in early adulthood

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: There’s paucity of longitudinal studies assessing the role of adolescent growth on adult body composition in developing countries. The aims of this study were to assess the association between adolescent change in height, weight and BMI and early adult height, weight, body fat and lean mass. METHODS: Magnitude, timing and intensity of height, weight and BMI growth were modelled for participants from the Birth to Thirty (Bt30) cohort (7–23 years). Early adult height, weight, BMI and DXA-derived body composition were obtained 1881 black participants (21–24 years). Linear regression analyses were used to assess associations. RESULTS: Adolescents with an earlier onset of puberty were heavier in childhood and had an earlier timing and faster weight gain velocity in late adolescence. The intensity of adolescent weight gain was positively associated with adult BMI and fat mass index (FMI) in females. Early timing of adolescent BMI gain was associated with increased weight and BMI in adult females and FMI in adult males.