Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 334, Issue 8661, 26 August 1989, Pages 491-493
The Lancet

Child Health
40-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(89)92098-9Get rights and content

Abstract

504 overweight children admitted to hospital between 1921 and 1947 were followed up for 40 years by questionnaires at 10 year intervals. The mean weight for height (W/H) standard deviation score (SDS) reached a maximum in puberty (+3·5). The SDS fell to about +1 in adulthood. 47% patients were still obese (SDS > + 1) in adulthood; 84·6% of these had SDS more than + 2 in childhood. The degree of obesity in the family (parents and grandparents) and the degree of overweight in puberty were the most important factors for weight level in adulthood. Even when their food intake was in accordance with recommended levels, obese children had higher than normal weight as adults. Excessive overweight in puberty (SDS > +3) was associated with higher than expected morbidity and mortality in adult life. Weight-reducing measures should be started early in life to improve the unfavourable long-term prognosis for very obese children.

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