Are stunted young Indonesian children more likely to be overweight, thin, or have high blood pressure in adolescence?

Objectives To determine whether stunted young children are at greater risk of (1) overweight/obesity or thinness, and (2) high blood pressure (HBP) in adolescence. Methods A secondary data analysis using the Indonesian Family Life Survey waves 1 (1993) to 4 (2007). We generated a 14-year follow-up cohort (1993–2007) and two 7-year cohorts (1993–2000 and 2000–2007) of children aged 2.0–4.9 years. Stunting (HAZ +1) were determined based upon the WHO Child Growth Standards. HBP ([90th percentile) was interpreted using the 4th Report on the Diagnosis of HBP in Children and Adolescents. Results 765, 1083, and 1589 children were included in the 14-year cohort, and the two 7-year cohort analyses, respectively. In the 7-year cohorts, early life stunting was inversely associated with overweight/obesity (prevalence ratio 0.32 and 0.38, respectively; P < 0.05), but no significant association was found with the 14-year cohort. There was no significant association between childhood stunting and thinness at adolescence or in the odds/likelihood of having high systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Conclusions We found no association between early life stunting and overweight/obesity, thinness and HBP in adolescence