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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Birth anthropometric measures, body mass index and allergic diseases in a birth cohort study (BAMSE)
Xiao-Mei Mai1, Catarina Almqvist, Lennart Nilsson
1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. xmai@mich.ca
Insights
Higher birth length, but not birth weight, may protect against childhood wheeze. This study examined birth measurements and allergic diseases up to age 4.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Perinatal Epidemiology
- Childhood Respiratory Health
Background:
- Birth anthropometrics are potential early life predictors of allergic diseases.
- Understanding these associations can inform preventative strategies for childhood allergies.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results on the impact of birth size on allergy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between birth weight and birth length with allergic diseases at age 4.
- To assess the influence of body mass index (BMI) at age 4 as a covariate.
- To identify potential protective or risk factors in early development for allergic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective birth cohort study with parental questionnaires on environmental factors and allergic symptoms.
- Collection of perinatal data on birth weight and length from health centers.
- Clinical examinations, height/weight measurements, and specific IgE antibody analysis at age 4; multivariate logistic regression analysis (n=2869).
Main Results:
- No significant overall association found between birth weight and allergic diseases at age 4.
- Birth length at or above the 90th percentile was inversely associated with any wheeze at age 4 (aOR 0.64).
- Higher birth length was significantly associated with late-onset wheeze (aOR 0.40) but not other wheeze types, eczema, rhinitis, or sensitization.
Conclusions:
- Increased birth weight is not linked to wheeze or allergic disease in early childhood.
- Greater birth length may confer a protective effect against the development of late-onset wheeze.
- Transient wheeze in infancy was associated with increased BMI at age 4, suggesting later influences on respiratory health.
Objective:
We aimed to assess increased birth weight or birth length in relation to allergic diseases at 4 years of age, taking body mass index (BMI) at age 4 as a covariate in the adjustment.
Methods:
The parents of a large prospective birth cohort answered questionnaires on environmental factors and allergic symptoms when their children were 2 months and 1, 2 and 4 years old. Perinatal data on weight and length at birth were received from the child care health centres. The children were clinically examined at 4 years of age and height and weight recorded. Blood was drawn for analysis of specific IgE antibodies to common inhalant allergens. Risk associations between birth anthropometric measures and wheeze, allergic diseases or sensitisation were estimated in multivariate logistic regression analyses (n = 2869).
Results:
There were no clear overall associations between birth weight and allergic diseases at 4 years of age. Birth length > or =90th percentile was inversely associated with any wheeze at age 4 (adjusted OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.92) but was significantly associated only with late-onset wheeze (adjusted OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.77). No such associations were seen for persistent or transient wheeze, eczema, rhinitis or allergic sensitisation. Transient wheeze during the first 2 years of age tended to be associated with increased BMI at age 4.
Conclusion:
Increased birth weight was not associated with wheeze or allergic disease. Increased birth length may play a protective role in late-onset wheeze in early childhood.
