Adverse Childhood Experiences in Infancy and Toddlerhood Predict Obesity and Health Outcomes in Middle Childhood

Abstract

Background: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study articulated the negative effects of childhood trauma on adult weight and health. The purpose of the current study is to examine the associations between ACEs in infancy and toddlerhood and obesity and related health indicators in middle childhood. Methods: We used data collected from a sample of low-income families enrolled in the national evaluation of Early Head Start (EHS). Data come from 1335 demographically diverse families collected at or near children's ages 1, 2, 3, and 11. An EHS-ACE index was created based on interview and observation items from data collected at ages 1, 2, and 3, which were averaged to represent exposure across infancy and toddlerhood. At age 11, children's height and weight were measured and parents were asked about their child's health. Results: Children were exposed at rates of 30%, 28%, 15%, and 8% to one, two, three, and four or more EHS-ACEs, respectively. Logistic regressions revealed significant associations between EHS-ACEs in infancy/toddlerhood and obesity, respiratory problems, taking regular nonattention-related prescriptions, and the parent's global rating of children's health at age 11. Across all outcomes examined, children with four or more ACEs had the poorest health. Compared with children with no ACE exposure, the odds of each of the examined health outcomes were over twice as high for children who experienced four or more ACEs. Conclusions: Findings highlight that ACEs experienced very early in development are associated with children whose health is at risk later in childhood.

Linking Psychosocial Stress Events, Psychological Disorders and Childhood Obesity

“…There are several possible explanations for this result: one may be that increases in overweight measures in response to stressful life events do not appear to occur instantaneously [ 13 ]. Previous research has found an association between the exposure to four or more ACEs and clinical obesity (95th percentile) [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Nevertheless, these traumatic events are a different type of event than PSEs, and their longer-term impact could be greater.…”

“…More specifically, previous research has shown that presenting ≥ 4 ACE had a significant impact on the medical and psychological health status in adults, as well as in early and middle childhood. In paediatric samples, exposure to four or more ACE categories was associated with clinical obesity (Body Mass Index BMI ≥ 95th percentile) [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

Adverse Childhood Experiences of Urban and Rural Preschool Children in Poverty

“…In the intervening years, a range of studies confirmed and extended the evidence of negative physical and psychological consequences [10]. Combined, these studies document that experiencing even one adversity increases the risk of negative outcomes [11,12,13,14,15].…”

The association between adverse childhood experiences and childhood obesity: A systematic review

“…Alarmingly, nearly half of children have experienced at least one ACE 11–14 . ACEs exposure has been associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other poor health outcomes in adulthood 10,15–21 . ACEs' effect on the development of obesity has been studied much less than obesity risk factors related to individual health behavior.…”