Fig. 2

The distinct trajectory patterns of body mass index from childhood (four years) to young adulthood (36 years).

The lines show class-specific mean predicted body mass index levels as a function of age estimated from the best fitting group-based model.

The green dotted line indicates a stable normal weight group, the blue dotted line indicates early adulthood overweight group, the orange dotted line indicates early childhood increasing overweight group and the red dotted line indicated early childhood obese group.

Overweight and obesity were defined using WHO age- and sex-specific BMI cut-offs for children aged 4 to 18 years, averaged across sex at each age.

In adults aged 19 years and older, BMI ≥ 25 and BMI ≥ 30 were considered overweight and obese.