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Childhood adversity trajectories and weight status in young adult men: a register-based study including 359,783 Danish men

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Wimmelmann, Cathrine L., Sejling, Christoffer, Clarke, Rebecca B., Elsenburg, Leonie K., Sørensen, Thorkild I. A., Rod, Naja H.·2024·International Journal of Obesity
DOI 10.1038/s41366-024-01540-4PMC PMC11281903
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Abstract

Background: Childhood adversity has previously been associated with overweight and obesity in adult life, but there is a need for larger population-based studies using prospectively obtained adversity trajectories across childhood to confirm these associations. Moreover, childhood adversity may also be associated with underweight, which is less often studied. The aim of the current study is to investigate the association between childhood adversity trajectories from 0–15 years with weight categories in young adult men. Methods: The Danish Life Course Cohort (DANLIFE) was linked with the Danish Conscription Registry resulting in a study sample of 359,783 men, who have been assigned to one of five previously identified adversity trajectories from 0–15 years: “low adversity”, “early material deprivation”, “persistent material deprivation”, “loss or threat of loss”, and “high adversity”. Height and weight in young adulthood was assessed at a draft board examination at age 18–26 years. Associations of adversity trajectories and weight categories were investigated in multinomial regression models. Results: Compared with the “low adversity” group, the four other adversity groups had higher risks of underweight, overweight, and obesity. The “high adversity” group showed the strongest associations with both underweight (1.44 (1.32, 1.58)) and obesity (1.50 (1.39, 1.61)) when adjusted for parental origin, birth year, age at draft board examination, and maternal age. Conclusion: Childhood adversity, experienced between 0 and 15 years of life, was associated with a higher risk of underweight, overweight, and obesity in young adulthood among men.

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  • Developmental trauma and childhood adversity are associated with a higher likelihood of developing obesity in adulthood.

    “Also, it is well established that developmental trauma and childhood adversity are associated with a higher likelihood of developing obesity in adulthood.135,136”

    From Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity (2025) · cites this paper as [135]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Wimmelmann, C. L., Sejling, C., Clarke, R. B., Elsenburg, L. K., Sørensen, T. I. A., & Rod, N. H.
Affiliations
University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Wimmelmann, Cathrine L.
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Obesity
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2024-05-30
Volume
48
Issue
8
Pages
1157-1163
ISSN
  • 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5497
DOI
10.1038/s41366-024-01540-4
PMC
PMC11281903
OpenAlex
W4399171554
Cited by
7
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2
FWCI
2.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Helsefonden (21B_0093)
  • Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF22SA0081741)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
Keywords
childhood adversity, weight status, underweight, overweight, obesity, young men, material deprivation, life course
MeSH terms
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adolescent, Adult, Body Weight, Child, Child, Preschool, Denmark, Humans, Infant, Male, Obesity, Registries, Risk Factors, Thinness, Body Mass Index, Overweight, Young Adult

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