contribution of childhood obesity to adult carotid intima-media thickness: the Bogalusa Heart Study

Objective: Although obese children are at increased risk for coronary heart disease in later life, it is not clear if the association results from the persistence of childhood obesity into adulthood. We examined the relation of both childhood and adult levels of body mass index (BMI, kg m- 2) to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measured at the (mean) age of 36 years. Design and Subjects: Prior to the determination of adult IMT, the 1142 participants had been examined 7 (mean) times in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Measurements: In addition to BMI, levels of lipids, lipoproteins and blood pressure were measured at each examination. Cumulative levels of each risk factor were based on the areas under the individual growth curves calculated using multilevel models for repeated (BMI) measurements. We then examined the relation of these cumulative levels to adult IMT. Results: Carotid IMT was associated with cumulative levels of BMI in both childhood and adulthood (P