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Early macronutrient intake and overweight at five years of age
S Scaglioni1, C Agostoni, R D Notaris
1Department of Paediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy. clinped@mailserver.unimi.it
Insights
Parental overweight is a significant risk factor for childhood obesity. Early high protein intake in infants is also linked to increased adiposity by age five.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood overweight is a growing public health concern.
- Parental obesity is a known predictor of childhood obesity.
- Early life nutrition plays a critical role in child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of early macronutrient intake on childhood overweight development.
- To assess the association between parental overweight and childhood overweight.
- To explore the influence of feeding method on overweight risk in offspring of overweight mothers.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 147 healthy children from birth.
- Anthropometric measurements at birth, 1, and 5 years.
- Dietary intake assessed via food-frequency questionnaires and 24-hour recalls at ages 1 and 5.
- Parental Body Mass Index (BMI) recorded.
Main Results:
- Overweight prevalence at age 5 was significantly higher in children with parental overweight (37.3% vs 8.3%).
- Children who were overweight at age 5 had higher protein intake (22% vs 20%) and lower carbohydrate intake (44% vs 47%) at age 1.
- Protein intake at age 1 was associated with overweight at age 5 (P=0.05).
Conclusions:
- Parental overweight is a major risk factor for childhood overweight.
- Early high protein intake may contribute to the development of childhood adiposity.
- Breastfeeding may offer some protection against overweight in offspring of overweight mothers.
Objective:
To examine the influence of the macronutrient intake in early life on the development of overweight in children.
Design And Subjects:
An ongoing longitudinal study including 147 randomized healthy children followed up from birth.
Measurements:
Anthropometric parameters were measured at birth, 1 and 5 y of age. Dietary habits at the age of 1 and 5 were assessed by age-adjusted food-frequency questionnaires and 24 h recalls. Parents' body mass index (BMI) was also recorded.
Results:
Parental overweight was observed for 51% children. The prevalence of overweight at the age of 5 y was higher in children with than without parental overweight (37.3% vs 8.3%, P<0.0001). Five-year old overweight children had a higher percentage intake of proteins at the age of 1 y than non overweight children (22% vs 20%, P=0.024) and lower intake of carbohydrates (44% vs 47%, P=0.031). Multiple logistic analysis confirmed that protein intake at 1 y of age was associated with overweight at 5 y (P=0.05). In children born from overweight mothers, prevalence of overweight at the age of 5 y tended to be higher in bottle-fed than in breast-fed ones (62.5% vs 23.3%, P=0.08).
Conclusion:
Parental overweight is a major risk factor for childhood overweight in the first years of life, but an early high protein intake may also influence the development of adiposity.