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Epidemiology of early and late growth in height, leg and trunk length: findings from a birth cohort of Brazilian males

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 375–381 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objective:

To investigate socioeconomic, gestational and early life exposures as potential determinants of total height, leg and trunk length.

Subjects/Methods:

Male subjects from the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study were examined in 1986 at home, and in 2000 when registering at the local army base. The follow-up rate was 79%. Standing and sitting heights were measured on both occasions. Leg length was calculated as the difference between standing and sitting heights. Outcome measures were height, leg and trunk length at 4 and 18 years and growth in this period. Complete data were obtained for 2012 participants, representing 71% of all eligible male subjects.

Results:

Mean (s.d.) height, trunk length and leg length at 18 years were 173.4 (6.8), 96.0 (3.5) and 77.5 cm (4.5), respectively. The mean (s.d.) change in height from 1986 to 2000 was 75.4 cm (5.2) and for leg and trunk length 35.4 (3.9) and 40.0 cm (2.9), respectively. Of 11 independent variables analyzed, only maternal height and birthweight were associated with all three variables of growth. Gestational age showed no associations with growth or attained size.

Conclusions:

Early growth plays a pivotal role in determining attained height and its components. Both biological and socioeconomic variables strongly influence determinants of height, though socioeconomic factors appear to be more important in early growth. Leg and trunk length contribute almost equally to differences in overall height, regardless of the independent variable influencing the difference. Public health strategies designed to improve chronic disease profiles should focus on the early growth period.

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Acknowledgements

This analysis was supported by the Wellcome Trust's initiative entitled ‘Major Awards for Latin America on Health Consequences of Population Change’. Earlier phases of the 1982 cohort study were funded by the International Development Research Center (Canada), the World Health Organization (Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development, and Human Reproduction Programme), the Overseas Development Administration (United Kingdom), the United Nation's Development Fund for Women, the National Program for Centers of Excellence (Brazil), the National Research Council (Brazil) and the Ministry of Health (Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Post-graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    D P Gigante, R C Lima, F C Barros & C G Victora

  2. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    A Nazmi

  3. Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    R C Lima

  4. PAHO/WHO Latin-American Center for Perinatology and Human Development, Montevideo, Uruguay

    F C Barros

Authors
  1. D P Gigante
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  2. A Nazmi
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  3. R C Lima
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  4. F C Barros
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  5. C G Victora
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D P Gigante.

Additional information

Contributors: DPG led the analysis and wrote the paper with AN and CGV. RCL conducted the 2000 Army Enlistment Study. FCB and CGV initiated the Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. All authors revised and approved the paper.

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Gigante, D., Nazmi, A., Lima, R. et al. Epidemiology of early and late growth in height, leg and trunk length: findings from a birth cohort of Brazilian males. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 375–381 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602949

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