Aim: We previously reported that female babies born small developed cardiovascular risks in middle age. The present study was conducted using the same cohort to examine the relationship between physique at 6 years and the metabolic disease risk in middle age.
Methods: Data collected from 721 women aged 41-69 years who underwent a medical examination at a single institution between 2007 and 2008 were retrospectively examined. We collected data from medical examinations and a questionnaire on physique (thin, normal, and fat) at 6 years. The relationship between birthweight and physique at 6 years was investigated.
Results: Among females who were born small (< 2500 g), 80%, 16%, and 4% became thin, normal, or fat, respectively, by 6 years. Physique at 6 years had a negative relationship with future triglyceride, fasting glucose, HbA1C , insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels and a positive relationship with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Conclusion: Although our findings may be specific to the study population, physique at 6 years had a negative relationship with the metabolic disease risk in middle-aged Japanese women. Insulin and MOMA-IR levels negatively correlated with physique at 6 years, and development from low birthweight infants to childhood obesity was rare in this cohort.
Keywords: metabolic disease risk; physique; six years old; women.
© 2020 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.