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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Secular changes in growth and obesity in perinatal population

Hrvojka Soljacić Vranes1, Vesna Gall, Marija Jukić

  • 1University of Zagreb, "Sestre milosrdnice" University Hospital Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Zagreb, Croatia. hsoljacicvranes@hotmail.com

Collegium Antropologicum
|August 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Over 25 years, maternal height and pre-pregnancy weight increased in healthy Croatian women. Higher maternal body mass index (BMI) correlated with heavier newborns, influenced by age and lifestyle.

Area of Science:

  • Anthropology
  • Public Health
  • Maternal Health

Background:

  • Secular trends in maternal and newborn anthropometric factors are crucial for understanding population health.
  • Previous studies indicate shifts in women's health parameters over time.
  • Investigating generational changes in Croatia provides specific regional insights.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze secular trends in anthropological factors among women and their newborns over two generations.
  • To identify changes in maternal height, pre-pregnancy weight, and body mass index (BMI).
  • To explore associations between maternal characteristics and newborn birth weight.

Main Methods:

  • A 25-year longitudinal survey of 2414 healthy women and their newborns at a University Hospital Center in Zagreb, Croatia.
  • Data collection included pre-pregnancy weight, BMI, height, age, residence, education, parity, and newborn weight.
  • Randomized sampling included women from urban and rural environments with varying educational backgrounds and parity.

Main Results:

  • Maternal height increased by 3.1 cm over 25 years, positively correlating with higher education.
  • Pre-pregnancy weight increased by 2.8 kg, associated with older age, higher parity, and rural residence.
  • Maternal body mass index (BMI) showed significant variations with birth order, age, and living environment, and was linked to heavier newborns.

Conclusions:

  • Significant generational changes in maternal anthropometric indicators were observed in the Croatian population.
  • Factors like education, age, parity, and living environment play a role in maternal weight and BMI trends.
  • Higher maternal BMI is a predictor of increased newborn birth weight.

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