Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
14:19
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Does fetal growth restriction influence body composition at school age?
Marilia C Lima1, Henrique F Dantas, Rosemary J M Amorim
1Departamento Materno Infantil, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Jornal De Pediatria
|January 13, 2011
Summary
Low birth weight did not significantly impact body composition in full-term schoolchildren. Socioeconomic factors and child morbidity were more influential on body fat deposition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Low birth weight is a global concern affecting child development.
- Understanding long-term body composition impacts is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of low birth weight in full-term infants on body composition at school age.
- To identify factors influencing body composition in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 213 children (aged 8) from a birth cohort in Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Body composition assessed via skinfold thickness and mid-upper arm circumference.
- Multivariable linear regression analyzed influences of birth weight, socioeconomic status, maternal nutrition, and child morbidity.
Main Results:
- Children with low birth weight had slightly lower skinfold thickness and arm circumference, but differences were not significant.
- Socioeconomic variables, particularly family income, explained the most variance in triceps skinfold thickness (12.3%).
- Childhood anemia, past hospitalization, and maternal BMI also influenced body composition, while low birth weight did not.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic status and childhood morbidity significantly influence body composition in full-term schoolchildren.
- Low birth weight was not a primary determinant of body composition at school age in this population.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Signs of Puberty
Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
01:10Nature and Nurture
Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...