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Early child neglect: does it predict obesity or underweight in later childhood?

David S Bennett1, Margaret Wolan Sullivan, Shanel M Thompson

  • 1Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. david.bennett@drexelmed.edu

Child Maltreatment
|April 17, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Child neglect does not directly impact body mass index (BMI) in early childhood. However, chronic neglect was linked to lower BMIs in later childhood, suggesting complex weight-related effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Child neglect is a potential risk factor for abnormal body weight in early childhood.
  • Limited research exists on the association between child neglect and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between child neglect and BMI in children aged 4-9 years.
  • To explore if neglect history influences BMI trajectories over time.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 185 children (91 with a Child Protective Services history of neglect) from ages 4-6 to 7-9 years.
  • Comparison of BMI between neglected and non-neglected children against Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) norms.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in BMI was observed between neglected and comparison children at ages 4-6 and 7-9 years.
  • Both groups exhibited BMIs significantly higher than CDC norms.
  • Increased chronicity of neglect predicted lower BMIs at ages 8 and 9 years.

Conclusions:

  • Child neglect's direct impact on early childhood BMI is not clearly established.
  • Chronic neglect may be associated with reduced BMI in later childhood.
  • Further research is needed to identify moderators influencing the neglect-weight relationship.

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