Maternal obesity is associated with younger age at obesity onset in U.S. adolescent offspring followed into adulthood.

Abstract

The objective was to test the hypothesis that maternal obesity is associated with younger age of offspring's obesity onset. We used prospective, nationally representative, longitudinal data collected across Waves I (1995; 12 to 20 years), II (1996; 13 to 20 years), and III (2001; 18 to 28 years) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 14,654; 49% female). Interval regression analysis was used to assess the association between maternal obesity and age at offspring's obesity onset (International Obesity Task Force BMI >or=30 equivalent age- and sex-specific cut-off points for adolescents and BMI >or=30 for young adults) using self-reported heights and weights, adjusting for race/ethnicity, sex, parental education, and family income, accounting for complex sampling design. The net effect of having an obese mother varied by race/ethnicity and was associated with a significantly earlier age at obesity onset (p = 0.0001) for whites [beta= -8.1 year, 95% confidence interval (CI), -9.3; -6.9)], blacks (beta = -10.8 years, 95% CI, -12.4; -9.2), Hispanics (beta = -7.0 years, 95% CI, -9.2; -4.8), and Asians (beta = -8.6 years, 95% CI, -13.3; -3.9). Earlier obesity onset (<18 years) was associated with increased severity at young adulthood (mean BMI, 36.0 +/- 0.3 kg/m(2)) vs. onset after age 18 (mean BMI, 34.4 +/- 0.2 kg/m(2); p = 0.0001). There were no sex differences in the association of maternal obesity to age at obesity onset. Having an obese mother was associated with earlier age at obesity onset across all race/ethnic groups, particularly non-Hispanic blacks. Early obesity onset has important health consequences because of its association with more severe adult obesity.