Body mass index trajectory throughout adolescence: a comparison of maltreated adolescents by maltreatment type to a community sample

Abstract

Summary Background Childhood maltreatment is associated with adult obesity, but there is conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between childhood maltreatment and obesity during adolescence. Objectives To compare the body mass index (BMI) trajectory of adolescents with a specific type of maltreatment (sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect) to adolescents with another type of maltreatment (maltreated sample n = 303) and to a comparison group (n = 151). Methods Individual growth models were used to estimate average growth trajectories of BMI percentile separately by sex (ages 9 to 22 years). Unconditional and conditional linear and quadratic growth models were estimated and maltreatment types were added before including covariates (ethnicity, anxiety, depression and pubertal stage). Results BMI growth trajectories of sexually abused girls and neglected girls were significantly different from comparison girls. Comparison girls had a growth trajectory that reached its apex at 15 years and then began to decline, whereas sexually abused girls and neglected girls had lower BMI than comparison girls until age 16–17 years when their BMI was higher than comparison girls. Conclusions Late adolescence appears to be the developmental period during which differences in BMI percentiles become pronounced between girls with sexual abuse or with neglect vs. comparison girls.

Relationship between child maltreatment and adolescent body mass index trajectories

“…Previous research suggests that individuals who experience child maltreatment exhibit elevated levels and steeper increases in BMI in the time between maltreatment and adulthood (Morris, Northstone, & Howe, 2016; Schneiderman, Negriff, Peckins, Mennen, & Trickett, 2015; Shin & Miller, 2012), which are characteristics of trajectories linked to obesity-related disorders in midlife (Tirosh et al, 2011). However, with respect to the relationship between specific forms of child maltreatment and later weight outcomes, findings are mixed.…”

“…Most research considers child maltreatment as categorical groups—typically physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect—often in a hierarchical manner (T. T. Clark, Yang, McClernon, & Fuemmeler, 2015; Gilbert et al, 2009; Schneiderman et al, 2015; Shin & Miller, 2012). For example, in a Schneiderman et al 2015 study, individuals were categorized into the “sexual abuse” group if they ever experienced sexual abuse (regardless of other maltreatment).…”

“…T. Clark, Yang, McClernon, & Fuemmeler, 2015; Gilbert et al, 2009; Schneiderman et al, 2015; Shin & Miller, 2012). For example, in a Schneiderman et al 2015 study, individuals were categorized into the “sexual abuse” group if they ever experienced sexual abuse (regardless of other maltreatment). Of those individuals who did not experience sexual abuse, youth with any physical abuse (regardless of other maltreatment) were categorized into the “physical abuse” group.…”

“…Then, among individuals without sexual or physical abuse, those with emotional abuse (with or without neglect) were categorized into the “emotional abuse” group. Lastly, the remaining individuals who experienced neglect were categorized into the “neglect” category (Schneiderman et al, 2015). Such hierarchical assignment requires a priori assumptions regarding which maltreatment type is most salient, and this is appropriate when assumptions are grounded in theory or previous research.…”

“…Although weight gain during the transition from childhood to adulthood is expected, adolescence is a risk period for excessive, unhealthy weight gain (McTigue et al, 2003; The, Suchindran, North, Popkin, & Gordon-Larsen, 2010). Individuals who experience child maltreatment are disproportionately susceptible to this unhealthy pattern (Power, Pinto Pereira, & Li, 2015; Schneiderman et al, 2015; Shin & Miller, 2012). Previous analyses have demonstrated that girls who experience sexual abuse and those who experience neglect exhibit greater BMI growth across adolescence compared to girls who were not maltreated (Schneiderman et al, 2015).…”