Obesity, Stature, and One Year Relative Weight of 15-Year Old Youths

Document Type

Article

Authors

Francis E. Johnston, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Robert W. Mack, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Abstract

The relationship of obesity to stature was investigated in a sample of 140 male and 127 female 15-year olds whose relative weights at one year of age were known. There were no significant differences in stature when the data were analyzed by one year relative weight and by obesity status. However, when individuals who, at age one, had been above a +1 sd in relative weight were compared to all others, an increase of approximately 2 cm was seen, in both males and females, in the high relative weight group. Though this difference was only of borderline significance (.13 in males and .08 in females), it does suggest that excessive weight growth in the first year is associated with increased stature at later ages, whether or not the excess fatness is lost.

Recommended Citation

Johnston, Francis E. and Mack, Robert W. (1980) "Obesity, Stature, and One Year Relative Weight of 15-Year Old Youths," Human Biology: Vol. 52: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol52/iss1/6