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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Determinants of overweight in a cohort of Dutch children

Neeltje Vogels1, Danielle L A Posthumus, Edwin C M Mariman

  • 1Departments of Human Biology and Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. n.vogels@hb.unimaas.nl

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|October 7, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Childhood overweight is linked to rapid early weight gain and parental factors. High dietary restraint and low physical activity in children may also contribute to maintaining overweight status.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Obesity Research
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Effective prevention and treatment of childhood obesity require understanding body weight (BW) development and its determinants.
  • Focusing on early life factors is crucial for managing pediatric overweight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of early development, parental, genetic, and behavioral factors on overweight status at age 12 years.
  • To identify predictors of overweight in children.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 105 children from birth to 12 years with anthropometric measurements.
  • Assessed body composition, leptin, genetic polymorphisms, physical activity, and eating behaviors at age 12.
  • Collected parental BMI and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire data.

Main Results:

  • 15.2% of children were overweight at age 12 years; mean BMI was 19.0 +/- 2.6.
  • Early rapid BW increase, paternal BMI, and maternal dietary restraint predicted overweight at 12 years.
  • Childhood dietary restraint correlated with overweight, while physical activity correlated with lower body fat percentage.

Conclusions:

  • Body Mass Index (BMI) tracking from the first year of life predicts childhood overweight.
  • Early BW gain and parental influences are significant predictors of overweight at age 12.
  • Childhood overweight may be exacerbated by high dietary restraint and low physical activity.
Abstract

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