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Racial/ethnic differences in early-life risk factors for childhood obesity

Elsie M Taveras1, Matthew W Gillman, Ken Kleinman

  • 1Obesity Prevention Program, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, 133 Brookline Ave, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA. elsie_taveras@harvardpilgrim.org

Pediatrics
|March 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Racial and ethnic disparities in childhood obesity begin early. Key risk factors, including maternal depression and feeding practices, emerge during pregnancy and infancy, impacting children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Obesity Research
  • Health Disparities
  • Early Childhood Development

Background:

  • Childhood obesity prevalence shows significant racial/ethnic disparities by preschool age.
  • Understanding early-life risk factors is crucial for addressing these disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate racial/ethnic differences in risk factors for childhood obesity.
  • To identify factors from prenatal through early childhood (4 years) associated with obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 1343 white, 355 black, and 128 Hispanic mother-child pairs.
  • Mothers reported child's race/ethnicity.
  • Risk factors assessed from prenatal period to 4 years old.

Main Results:

  • Black and Hispanic children showed increased risk factors compared to white children.
  • Prenatal risks: higher maternal depression.
  • Infancy risks: rapid weight gain, early solid food introduction, restrictive feeding.
  • Childhood risks: bedroom TVs, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, fast food consumption.
  • Lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding and shorter sleep duration observed in black and Hispanic infants.

Conclusions:

  • Racial/ethnic disparities in obesity risk factors are evident prenatally and in early childhood.
  • Early life factors significantly contribute to childhood obesity disparities.
Abstract

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