Mediation analysis between maternal BMI, age and the Rohrer Index in adult women: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12873/454gordilloKeywords:
maternal BMI; Rohrer index; statistical mediation; intergenerational obesity; public health.Abstract
Introduction: Maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) is a robust predictor of adiposity in offspring. However, there is a need to understand the possible mediating mechanisms, such as maternal age, in this relationship.
Objective: To assess the association between maternal BMI and Rohrer Index (PI), exploring the mediating role of women's age.
Methodology: Cross-sectional study with secondary data from the Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES). We included 31742 data from complete records of maternal gestational BMI, maternal age, and neonatal measurements. Maternal BMI was calculated using data from the first antenatal visit and PI as birth weight divided by height3. Mediation analysis was performed using the JAMOVI software, estimating direct, indirect, and total standardized effects with 95% confidence intervals.
Results: Maternal BMI showed a high direct effect on PI (β = 0.97; p < .001). The indirect effect through female age was statistically significant, but small in magnitude (β = 0.0086; p < .001), accounting for only 0.88 % of the total effect.
Conclusions: The influence of maternal BMI on offspring corpulence is mainly exerted through direct pathways, while female age plays a marginal mediating role. These findings underscore the importance of interventions targeting maternal BMI as a strategy to prevent intergenerational obesity.
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