Association between size at birth, truncal fat and obesity in adult life and its contribution to blood pressure and coronary heart disease; study in a high birth weight population

I. Gunnarsdottir; B. E. Birgisdottir; R. Benediktsson; V. Gudnason; I. Thorsdottir

doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601881

Association between size at birth, truncal fat and obesity in adult life and its contribution to blood pressure and coronary heart disease; study in a high birth weight population

I. Gunnarsdottir^*, B. E. Birgisdottir, R. Benediktsson, V. Gudnason, I. Thorsdottir

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between size at birth and obesity as well as truncal fat, and its contribution to cardiovascular risk in a high birth weight population. Design: Cohort-study with retrospectively collected data on size at birth. Setting: Reykjavik, Iceland. Subjects: A total of 1874 men and 1833 women born in Reykjavik during 1914-1935. Main outcome measures: Size at birth. Adult weight, height and skinfold thickness measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD). Results: Birth weight was positively related to adult body mass index (BMI) in both genders (B=0.35±0.14 kg/m², adj. R²=0.015, P=0.012 and B=0.34±0.17 kg/m², adj. R²=0.055, P=0.043 in men and women, respectively). However, high birth weight was not a risk factor for adult obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²). In the highest birth weight quartile, the odds ratio (95% CI) for being above the 90th percentile of truncal fat was 0.7 (0.6-1.0, P=0.021) for men and 0.4 (0.3-0.8, P=0.002) for women, compared with the lowest birth weight quartile. Truncal fat and BMI were positively related to blood pressure in both genders (P<0.05), but not to CHD. The regression coefficient for the inverse association between birth weight and blood pressure hardly changed when adding truncal fat to the model. Conclusion: In this high birth weight population, high birth weight was related to higher BMI in adulthood without being a risk factor for adult obesity. The inverse association between birth weight and truncal fat in adulthood suggests a role for foetal development in determining adult fat distribution. The inverse relationship of birth weight to blood pressure seems not to be mediated through the same pathway as to truncal fat.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	812-818
Number of pages	7
Journal	European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume	58
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601881
Publication status	Published - May 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Orn Olafsson, statistician, Helgi Sigvaldason, statistician and Nikulas Sigfusson, MD, for their valuable help with data preparation and calculations, and the employees at the National Archives of Iceland and the Genetics Committee at the University of Iceland for their assistance in preparation of the project and data collection. This study was supported by a research grant to IT from The Icelandic Research Council, The Research Fund of the University of Iceland, and to IG from the Fund for Research Training and Graduate Education. The collection of adult data was supported by the Icelandic Heart Association. The material has not been published previously.

Other keywords

Adult
Anthropometry
Birth weight
Foetal growth retardation
Infant
Nutrition
Obesity

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10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601881

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Gunnarsdottir, I., Birgisdottir, B. E., Benediktsson, R., Gudnason, V., & Thorsdottir, I. (2004). Association between size at birth, truncal fat and obesity in adult life and its contribution to blood pressure and coronary heart disease; study in a high birth weight population. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58(5), 812-818. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601881

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title = "Association between size at birth, truncal fat and obesity in adult life and its contribution to blood pressure and coronary heart disease; study in a high birth weight population",

abstract = "Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between size at birth and obesity as well as truncal fat, and its contribution to cardiovascular risk in a high birth weight population. Design: Cohort-study with retrospectively collected data on size at birth. Setting: Reykjavik, Iceland. Subjects: A total of 1874 men and 1833 women born in Reykjavik during 1914-1935. Main outcome measures: Size at birth. Adult weight, height and skinfold thickness measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD). Results: Birth weight was positively related to adult body mass index (BMI) in both genders (B=0.35±0.14 kg/m2, adj. R2=0.015, P=0.012 and B=0.34±0.17 kg/m2, adj. R2=0.055, P=0.043 in men and women, respectively). However, high birth weight was not a risk factor for adult obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). In the highest birth weight quartile, the odds ratio (95% CI) for being above the 90th percentile of truncal fat was 0.7 (0.6-1.0, P=0.021) for men and 0.4 (0.3-0.8, P=0.002) for women, compared with the lowest birth weight quartile. Truncal fat and BMI were positively related to blood pressure in both genders (P<0.05), but not to CHD. The regression coefficient for the inverse association between birth weight and blood pressure hardly changed when adding truncal fat to the model. Conclusion: In this high birth weight population, high birth weight was related to higher BMI in adulthood without being a risk factor for adult obesity. The inverse association between birth weight and truncal fat in adulthood suggests a role for foetal development in determining adult fat distribution. The inverse relationship of birth weight to blood pressure seems not to be mediated through the same pathway as to truncal fat.",

keywords = "Adult, Anthropometry, Birth weight, Foetal growth retardation, Infant, Nutrition, Obesity",

author = "I. Gunnarsdottir and Birgisdottir, {B. E.} and R. Benediktsson and V. Gudnason and I. Thorsdottir",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Orn Olafsson, statistician, Helgi Sigvaldason, statistician and Nikulas Sigfusson, MD, for their valuable help with data preparation and calculations, and the employees at the National Archives of Iceland and the Genetics Committee at the University of Iceland for their assistance in preparation of the project and data collection. This study was supported by a research grant to IT from The Icelandic Research Council, The Research Fund of the University of Iceland, and to IG from the Fund for Research Training and Graduate Education. The collection of adult data was supported by the Icelandic Heart Association. The material has not been published previously.",

year = "2004",

month = may,

doi = "10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601881",

language = "English",

volume = "58",

pages = "812--818",

journal = "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition",

issn = "0954-3007",

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Gunnarsdottir, I , Birgisdottir, BE , Benediktsson, R , Gudnason, V & Thorsdottir, I 2004, 'Association between size at birth, truncal fat and obesity in adult life and its contribution to blood pressure and coronary heart disease; study in a high birth weight population', European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 58, no. 5, pp. 812-818. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601881

Association between size at birth, truncal fat and obesity in adult life and its contribution to blood pressure and coronary heart disease; study in a high birth weight population. / Gunnarsdottir, I.; Birgisdottir, B. E.; Benediktsson, R. et al.
In: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 58, No. 5, 05.2004, p. 812-818.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Association between size at birth, truncal fat and obesity in adult life and its contribution to blood pressure and coronary heart disease; study in a high birth weight population

AU - Gunnarsdottir, I.

AU - Birgisdottir, B. E.

AU - Benediktsson, R.

AU - Gudnason, V.

AU - Thorsdottir, I.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Orn Olafsson, statistician, Helgi Sigvaldason, statistician and Nikulas Sigfusson, MD, for their valuable help with data preparation and calculations, and the employees at the National Archives of Iceland and the Genetics Committee at the University of Iceland for their assistance in preparation of the project and data collection. This study was supported by a research grant to IT from The Icelandic Research Council, The Research Fund of the University of Iceland, and to IG from the Fund for Research Training and Graduate Education. The collection of adult data was supported by the Icelandic Heart Association. The material has not been published previously.

PY - 2004/5

Y1 - 2004/5

N2 - Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between size at birth and obesity as well as truncal fat, and its contribution to cardiovascular risk in a high birth weight population. Design: Cohort-study with retrospectively collected data on size at birth. Setting: Reykjavik, Iceland. Subjects: A total of 1874 men and 1833 women born in Reykjavik during 1914-1935. Main outcome measures: Size at birth. Adult weight, height and skinfold thickness measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD). Results: Birth weight was positively related to adult body mass index (BMI) in both genders (B=0.35±0.14 kg/m2, adj. R2=0.015, P=0.012 and B=0.34±0.17 kg/m2, adj. R2=0.055, P=0.043 in men and women, respectively). However, high birth weight was not a risk factor for adult obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). In the highest birth weight quartile, the odds ratio (95% CI) for being above the 90th percentile of truncal fat was 0.7 (0.6-1.0, P=0.021) for men and 0.4 (0.3-0.8, P=0.002) for women, compared with the lowest birth weight quartile. Truncal fat and BMI were positively related to blood pressure in both genders (P<0.05), but not to CHD. The regression coefficient for the inverse association between birth weight and blood pressure hardly changed when adding truncal fat to the model. Conclusion: In this high birth weight population, high birth weight was related to higher BMI in adulthood without being a risk factor for adult obesity. The inverse association between birth weight and truncal fat in adulthood suggests a role for foetal development in determining adult fat distribution. The inverse relationship of birth weight to blood pressure seems not to be mediated through the same pathway as to truncal fat.

AB - Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between size at birth and obesity as well as truncal fat, and its contribution to cardiovascular risk in a high birth weight population. Design: Cohort-study with retrospectively collected data on size at birth. Setting: Reykjavik, Iceland. Subjects: A total of 1874 men and 1833 women born in Reykjavik during 1914-1935. Main outcome measures: Size at birth. Adult weight, height and skinfold thickness measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD). Results: Birth weight was positively related to adult body mass index (BMI) in both genders (B=0.35±0.14 kg/m2, adj. R2=0.015, P=0.012 and B=0.34±0.17 kg/m2, adj. R2=0.055, P=0.043 in men and women, respectively). However, high birth weight was not a risk factor for adult obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). In the highest birth weight quartile, the odds ratio (95% CI) for being above the 90th percentile of truncal fat was 0.7 (0.6-1.0, P=0.021) for men and 0.4 (0.3-0.8, P=0.002) for women, compared with the lowest birth weight quartile. Truncal fat and BMI were positively related to blood pressure in both genders (P<0.05), but not to CHD. The regression coefficient for the inverse association between birth weight and blood pressure hardly changed when adding truncal fat to the model. Conclusion: In this high birth weight population, high birth weight was related to higher BMI in adulthood without being a risk factor for adult obesity. The inverse association between birth weight and truncal fat in adulthood suggests a role for foetal development in determining adult fat distribution. The inverse relationship of birth weight to blood pressure seems not to be mediated through the same pathway as to truncal fat.

KW - Adult

KW - Anthropometry

KW - Birth weight

KW - Foetal growth retardation

KW - Infant

KW - Nutrition

KW - Obesity

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M3 - Article

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JO - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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ER -

Association between size at birth, truncal fat and obesity in adult life and its contribution to blood pressure and coronary heart disease; study in a high birth weight population

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Other keywords

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