Associations between adverse childhood experiences and obesity among young US adults

PURPOSE: We examined whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with obesity in young adulthood, and whether these associations differ by sex. METHODS: We used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a nationally representative cohort of U.S. adolescents followed into adulthood (age 33-43 years) across five waves. Our sample included 5193 participants with measured anthropometrics at wave V (2016-18). Modified Poisson regression estimated risk ratios (RR) for general obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference >102 cm for males, >88 cm for females) associated with individual and cumulative ACEs, adjusting for baseline BMI, co-occurring ACEs, and sociodemographic covariates. Sex-stratified models assessed heterogeneity in effects. RESULTS: Childhood physical abuse was independently associated with higher risk of general obesity, particularly among females (aRR: 1.23; 95 % CI: 1.05-1.45). Exposure to ≥ 4 ACEs was associated with increased risk of both general (aRR: 1.32; 95 % CI: 1.15-1.52) and abdominal obesity (aRR: 1.18; 95 % CI: 1.02-1.37), independent of childhood obesity. CONCLUSIONS: ACEs, especially physical abuse and cumulative exposure, were linked to higher risk of obesity, suggesting that traumatic events may play an important role in young adulthood obesity, especially in females.