Number of children and body composition in later life among men and women: Results from a British birth cohort study

BACKGROUND: Although research has found associations between increasing number of children and higher body mass index (BMI), there has been limited research investigating the association with body composition despite abdominal fat being independently associated with cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Most existing research has focussed on women, but investigating the relationship in men can help distinguish biological effects of pregnancy from social pathways related to parenthood. METHODS: Using the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) multiple regression models were applied to test associations between number of children and body composition at age 60–64 years (N = 2229) and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) at ages 60–64 and 69 years (N = 2149). RESULTS: In adjusted models, associations were observed between increasing numbers of children and increasing fat-adjusted lean mass index in women (p = 0.06). Among men, those with children had 0.59kg (95% CI: 0.15 to 1.02) greater lean mass index than those without and fat:lean mass ratio was greater in those with 4+ children because of their slightly higher mean fat mass. Weak evidence of a higher android:gynoid mass ratio among mothers (0.03, 95% CI: 0.00,0.06, p = 0.1) was observed with no associations with fat mass index,android or gynoid fat mass. Increasing parity in women was associated with increasing BMI at 60–64 years and, more strongly, with increasing BMI at 69 years. Associations among men were also observed more clearly with BMI at 69 years. CONCLUSION: There was little evidence of a consistent association between number of children and body composition in early old age. The strongest associations are observed for lean, rather than fat mass, and in men rather than women, suggesting little evidence of biological effects of pregnancy. The results indicate social pathways associated with parenthood are the likely underlying mechanisms, with suggestion of selection into parenthood among men.