TY - JOUR

T1 - Accumulation of adverse childhood events and overweight in children

T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis

AU - Elsenburg, Leonie K

AU - van Wijk, Kim J E

AU - Liefbroer, Aart C

AU - Smidt, Nynke

N1 - © 2017 The Obesity Society.

PY - 2017/5

Y1 - 2017/5

N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study systematically summarizes the evidence of all observational studies investigating the relation between accumulation of adverse life events and measures of overweight in children <18 years.METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were systematically searched (last search date 18 February 2015). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for methodological quality assessment. Study estimates were pooled using a random-effects model, and sources of heterogeneity were explored (PROSPERO registration number CRD42014014927).RESULTS: Eighteen articles were included, containing five longitudinal (n = 6,361) and fourteen cross-sectional and case-control study results (n = 52,318). The pooled estimate of the longitudinal studies showed that accumulation of adverse life events is positively related to childhood overweight measures (OR [95% CI] = 1.12 [1.01-1.25]). Cross-sectional and case-control study results were heterogeneous. Subgroup analyses showed that cross-sectional and case-control studies using a continuous adverse events measure, studies using a continuous overweight measure, and studies in children >6-12 years also generated positive pooled estimates, while the pooled estimate of studies assessing recent adverse events (past 2 years) was indicative of no relation with overweight.CONCLUSIONS: Accumulation of adverse life events and childhood overweight measures are positively associated. However, increases in overweight measures in response to adverse childhood events do not seem to occur instantaneously.

AB - OBJECTIVE: This study systematically summarizes the evidence of all observational studies investigating the relation between accumulation of adverse life events and measures of overweight in children <18 years.METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were systematically searched (last search date 18 February 2015). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for methodological quality assessment. Study estimates were pooled using a random-effects model, and sources of heterogeneity were explored (PROSPERO registration number CRD42014014927).RESULTS: Eighteen articles were included, containing five longitudinal (n = 6,361) and fourteen cross-sectional and case-control study results (n = 52,318). The pooled estimate of the longitudinal studies showed that accumulation of adverse life events is positively related to childhood overweight measures (OR [95% CI] = 1.12 [1.01-1.25]). Cross-sectional and case-control study results were heterogeneous. Subgroup analyses showed that cross-sectional and case-control studies using a continuous adverse events measure, studies using a continuous overweight measure, and studies in children >6-12 years also generated positive pooled estimates, while the pooled estimate of studies assessing recent adverse events (past 2 years) was indicative of no relation with overweight.CONCLUSIONS: Accumulation of adverse life events and childhood overweight measures are positively associated. However, increases in overweight measures in response to adverse childhood events do not seem to occur instantaneously.

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Child

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Longitudinal Studies

KW - Overweight/complications

U2 - 10.1002/oby.21797

DO - 10.1002/oby.21797

M3 - Review

C2 - 28371524

VL - 25

SP - 820

EP - 832

JO - Obesity

JF - Obesity

SN - 1930-7381

IS - 5

ER -