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Growth pattern of overweight preschool children in the Siouxland WIC program
Richard May1, Jackie Barber, Tracy Simpson
1Biology Department, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Oregon 97520, USA. mayr@sou.edu
Insights
Preschool children in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) showed significant weight z-score increases from birth to 8 months and 12 to 30 months. Rapid infant weight gain may heighten later childhood overweight risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Childhood Obesity Research
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- Childhood overweight is a growing public health concern.
- Early life factors influence long-term weight trajectories.
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) serves at-risk populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze weight and length/height z-score stability in overweight preschool children.
- To identify demographic and nutritional factors associated with weight changes.
- To investigate the relationship between early weight gain and later overweight status.
Main Methods:
- Collected demographic, nutritional, and anthropometric data from 134 WIC-enrolled preschool children.
- Calculated weight and length/height z-scores from birth to 3 years.
- Utilized paired t-tests and multiple regression analysis to assess z-score changes and influencing factors.
Main Results:
- Overweight children had higher percentages of Hispanic children and differed in birthweight, income, household size, and maternal education.
- Significant increases in weight z-scores observed between birth-8 months and 12-30 months (P < 0.001).
- Length z-scores increased significantly between 18-30 months but remained lower than weight z-scores.
Conclusions:
- Early rapid weight gain in infancy is linked to increased risk of childhood overweight.
- Initial weight, sex, breastfeeding, and household size significantly impact weight z-score changes in overweight children.
- Monitoring anthropometric changes within WIC programs is crucial for identifying at-risk children.
Abstract:
Demographic, nutritional, and anthropometric data were collected from 134 preschool children enrolled in the Siouxland Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). All children were diagnosed as overweight between the ages of 8 months and 3 years. Weight and length/height z-scores were calculated for birth measurements and for postnatal measurements up to 3 years. The main hypothesis involved stability of weight and length/height z-scores between successive WIC visits. Average changes in z-scores between measurements were calculated and tested for significance using paired t-tests. Multiple regression analysis was used to test relationships between changes in weight z-scores and demographic/nutritional characteristics. The overweight group had a higher percentage of Hispanic children than the total Siouxland WIC population. Overweight children were also significantly different in terms of birthweight, monthly household income, number in the house, and mother's education level. The children displayed a large average increase in weight z-scores between birth and 8 months (P < 0.001). Weight z-scores also increased significantly between 12 and 30 months. Length z-scores increased significantly between 18 and 30 months but remained lower than weight z-scores. Initial weight, sex of child, breastfeeding, and household size were significantly related to changes in weight z-scores among overweight children. Results of recent studies suggest that rapid weight gain in infancy may increase the risk of overweight during later childhood.