Growth and functional trajectories
What is the impact on ageing of different trajectories
of body size and function from birth onwards?
Research programme:
Growth and functional trajectories in relation to ageing
outcomes
Programme Leader:
Dr Rebecca Hardy
FALCon postdoctoral
scientist: Dr Andrew Wills
PhD student: Rebecca Landy
External collaborators:
- Professor Scott Hofer, Oregon University
- Dr Bianca De Stavola, London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine
- Dr Fiona Matthews, MRC Biostatistics Unit
- Professor Debbie Lawlor, MRC CAiTE Centre, University of
Bristol
- Professor Avan Aihie Sayer, MRC Epidemiology Resource
Centre
- Ms Michaela Benzeval, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences
Unit
Birth weight and childhood growth have been
shown in the NSHD and other studies to be related to later
morbidity and mortality. For example, low birth weight is
associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease and higher
blood pressure, while high birth weight is associated with a higher
risk of breast cancer among women. Obesity at all ages is major
public health problem, with obesity being one of the main risk
factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The overall aim of this research programme is
to investigate the impact of childhood growth, and trajectories of
adult body size and physical function (such as blood pressure) on
ageing, and to investigate the life course factors that influence
the shape of the trajectories themselves. The programme also
develops life course methodology for analysis of trajectories both
as outcome and explanatory variables which can then be applied to
many other life course hypotheses.
Objectives
- To evaluate how birth weight, growth, age at puberty and the
adult BMI trajectory are associated with new clinical measures of
cardiovascular and musculoskeletal function and biomarkers of
ageing
- To assess whether adult lifestyle, particularly physical
activity, and socioeconomic status modify the associations of early
growth on these outcomes
- To explore gender differences in CVD risk factor trajectories
and behaviours and whether these explain CVD event differences
- To investigate the genetics of early growth and later obesity
and environmental influences on BMI throughout life
- To carry out cross-cohort comparisons of growth and adult BMI
trajectories and of the impact of these trajectories on later
health, allowing us to assess the impact of different patterns of
growth on ageing. This will involve the development of
meta-analysis methods for combining findings across cohorts
- To develop statistical models (such as structural equation
models, latent growth curve and latent class models) to link
lifetime trajectories, such as growth, BMI and blood pressure, to
ageing outcomes and trajectories
Sample finding
Child-to-adult BMI and height trajectories: a comparison
of the 1946 and 1958 British birth cohorts
We compared height, weight and body mass index (BMI) from
childhood to midlife in the 1946 and 1958 British birth cohorts in
order to establish how trajectories have changed across
generations.(1) There was no difference in mean birth
weight between the two cohorts.
The 1958 cohort achieved adult height at a younger age than the
1946 cohort and they were taller in adulthood by an average of
10cm. BMI in childhood was similar in the two cohorts, but the 1958
cohort had a faster rate of BMI gain in adulthood. By mid-adulthood
the 1958 cohort had, on average, a greater BMI, larger waist and
hip circumferences, and had a higher percentage of obese
individuals.
The differences in the impact of the obesity epidemic, which was
experienced at a younger age in the 1958 cohort, can be observed in
these two national birth cohorts who were born only 12 years
apart