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Weights of parents and infants: Is there a relationship?

International Journal of Obesity volume 23, pages 159–162 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the measures of body weights of parents and those of their children during the first two years of life.

SUBJECTS: Seventy-eight infants born to obese (‘high risk’) or nonobese (‘low risk’) mothers.

METHODS: Weight, weight for length and skinfold thicknesses of the high and low risk infants were measured at 3 months, 12 months and 24 months of age. A multiple linear regression analysis assessed the contributions of nine risk factors, including paternal and maternal body mass index (BMI: kg/m2), to the weight and weight for length of infants at 12 months and 24 months of age.

RESULTS: There were no differences between the high and low risk groups in weight, weight for length or skinfold thicknesses at 3 months, 12 months or 24 months of age. Neither paternal nor maternal BMI entered the multiple regression.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that genetic influences on the body weight of infants may be independent of those that influence BMI in adults, a circumstance that could complicate the search for genetic determinants of obesity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia

    AJ Stunkard, RI Berkowitz & JR Cater

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia

    VA Stallings

  3. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia

    VA Stallings

Authors
  1. AJ Stunkard
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  2. RI Berkowitz
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  3. VA Stallings
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  4. JR Cater
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Stunkard, A., Berkowitz, R., Stallings, V. et al. Weights of parents and infants: Is there a relationship?. Int J Obes 23, 159–162 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800785

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800785

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