Nicholas MN, Keown-Stoneman CDG, Maguire JL, et al. - Findings demonstrate association of atopic dermatitis with shorter stature, higher body mass index (BMI), and lower weight in early childhood, however, these links were small, and for height and BMI, attenuated with age and resolved by adolescence.

• An ongoing prospective longitudinal cohort study of children aged 5 or younger who were followed up into adolescence; a total of 10,611 children (mean (SD) baseline age of 23 (20) months) were followed for a median (range) of 28.5 (0.0-158.0) months.

• During follow-up, 1,834 (17.3%) children had atopic dermatitis.

• In young children, an association of atopic dermatitis with somewhat shorter stature and higher BMI was evident; however these links attenuated by age 14 years and 5.5 years, respectively.

• According to WHO growth tables, children having atopic dermatitis were on average 0.5 cm shorter with 0.2 more BMI units at age 2 years and 0.6 cm shorter with no difference in BMI at age 5 years relative to those without atopic dermatitis post-adjustment for covariates.

• Atopic dermatitis was related to somewhat reduced weight, and this link did not alter with age.