Purpose: The objective of this study is to examine the effect of pregnancy on final adult height in women whose first live birth occurred in adolescence (<age 18) compared to women whose first live birth in adulthood (≥age 18).
Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004. Regression analysis was used for comparisons of adult height between the two groups. Three ethnic groups were selected for the analysis: Mexican-American, non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black.
Results: Non-Hispanic white women who gave birth in adolescence were approximately 2.97 cm shorter in final adult height than women who gave birth to their first child at ≥18 years [p = 0.03, 95 % confidence interval (-5.61, -0.33)]. There was no difference in final adult height in either the Mexican-American or non-Hispanic black groups.
Conclusion: Non-Hispanic white women who had their first live birth in adolescence have reduced height compared to women who had their first live birth as an adult.