Trajectories of overweight and related factors in Taiwan youth

Youth overweight is a pivotal international problem and leads to chronic diseases in adulthood. This study aims to identify distinct trajectories of youth overweight and related risk factors. We used data from a prospective cohort launched in 2001, which consisted of 5,543 students from 18 randomly selected public elementary schools in urban and rural areas. Data were collected annually using self-administered questionnaires. Trajectory groups of overweight from the fifth to twelfth grade were explored using the method of Group-based Trajectory Modeling. Four distinct trajectories were identified in females, including “never overweight” (71.9%), “declining probability of overweight” (5.5%), “increasing probability of overweight” (10.3%), and “chronic overweight” (12.3%). Compared to those grouped as “never overweight”, females in the “chronic overweight” and increasing probability of “overweight” groups tended to have lower level of paternal education or overweight parents. The trajectory groups for males were “never overweight” (60.3%), “slightly declining probability of overweight” (20.9%), and “chronic overweight” (18.8%). Males with overweight parents tended to have a higher risk of being in the “chronic overweight” or “slightly declining probability of overweight” groups. Lower paternal education was significantly related to membership of the “slightly declining probability of overweight” group. There were significant differences between males recruited from urban areas and their rural counterparts. In conclusion, gender-specific trajectory patterns of youth overweight were observed. More than 1/10 of the females and around 1/5 of the males were overweight through their adolescence. The main associated factors were parental overweight and education. Early interventions at family level are crucial.