Serial Childhood Body Mass Index and Associations with Adult Hypertension and Obesity: the Fels Longitudinal Study

Previous studies estimated critical periods of childhood body mass index (BMI) growth and linked these events to adult adiposity and cardiovascular health. We expand upon both results to link childhood BMI growth patterns with adult blood pressure. Data from male and female participants in the Fels Longitudinal Study were used to estimate childhood BMI growth curves, from which we isolate ages of childhood BMI divergence based upon adult BMI and blood pressure measurements. Repeated measure analysis of variances models were used to estimate BMI growth curves from ages 2 to 17.5 based on both adult BMI (< 25 kg/m(2) or ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) and adult blood pressure (< 120 mmHg or ≥ 120 mmHg for systolic blood pressure; < 80 mmHg or ≥ 80 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure). Participants with lower bodyweight throughout childhood had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures in early adulthood. Any relationships between childhood adiposity and adult bodyweight and blood pressure disappeared by age 60. These results were independent of adult BMI and were observed in both men and women. Increased adult blood pressure has its genesis in part from increased childhood BMI.