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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Central adiposity in children born small and large for gestational age

M Biosca1, G Rodríguez, P Ventura

  • 1Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, and Departamento de Pediatría, Radiología y Medicina Física, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.

Nutricion Hospitalaria
|November 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) exhibit higher central adiposity, while those born large for gestational age (LGA) show harmonic body composition. Birth weight impacts childhood body composition and fat distribution.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Human growth and development
  • Body composition analysis

Background:

  • Birth weight relative to gestational age (SGA, LGA, AGA) can influence long-term health outcomes.
  • Childhood body composition and fat distribution are critical indicators of metabolic health.
  • Understanding these differences is vital for early identification and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare body composition in children born small (SGA), large (LGA), and adequate (AGA) for gestational age.
  • To investigate regional fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral content differences.
  • To assess the long-term implications of birth size on childhood body composition.

Main Methods:

  • Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure body composition in 124 healthy Caucasian children (6-10 years).
  • Participants were categorized as AGA, SGA, or LGA based on birth weight for gestational age.
  • Analyses included whole-body and regional fat mass, lean mass, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density.

Main Results:

  • Children born LGA had significantly higher lean mass and bone mineral content (BMC) compared to AGA, while SGA children had lower values (adjusted for age, sex, weight).
  • These differences in lean mass and BMC were not significant after height adjustment.
  • Small for gestational age (SGA) children showed increased truncal and abdominal fatness compared to both AGA and LGA children, irrespective of overall body size.

Conclusions:

  • Children born SGA demonstrate increased central adiposity during childhood, potentially programming excess abdominal fat deposition.
  • Large for gestational age (LGA) children appear to have larger body size with balanced body composition and fat distribution.
  • Early life growth patterns (SGA/LGA) may have lasting effects on childhood body composition and metabolic syndrome risk factors.
Abstract

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