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OSLO, Norway, Dec 08, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- An adolescent's body mass index and changes in physical activity between adolescence and adulthood are good predictors of adult BMI.
Body mass index and the proportion of overweight and obese people has increased worldwide, according to an article in the December issue of The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
The study is based on studies establishing that people keep their relative positions, weight-wise, in their age-sex group over time.
Elisabeth Kvaavik of Norway's Institute for Nutrition Research said: "The main findings of this study were that BMI tracks significantly from adolescence into adulthood and that the subjects own BMI during adolescence, father's BMI, leisure time physical activity, and smoking in adulthood were strong predictors of adult BMI.
"Smoking cessation between adolescence and adulthood increased the risk of being overweight as adults, while an increase in LTPA and a high educational level among parents and participants reduced the risk of being overweight as adults"
She said the study's results provide strong rationale for obesity prevention at a young age.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
