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Parental, fetal, and infant risk factors for preschool overweight: the Generation R Study

Denise H M Heppe1, Jessica C Kiefte-de Jong, Büşra Durmuş

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Pediatric Research
|November 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Parental weight, low income, and accelerated growth in pregnancy and infancy are key risks for preschool overweight. Higher intake of polyunsaturated fats in infancy may reduce this risk.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Childhood overweight is a growing concern with origins in early life.
  • Identifying early risk factors is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key parental, fetal, and infant risk factors for preschool overweight.
  • To inform potential preventive interventions for childhood obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 3,610 Caucasian preschool children.
  • Assessment of 34 potential risk factors including parental anthropometrics, fetal growth, infant growth, and diet.

Main Results:

  • Maternal and paternal BMI, birth weight, low household income, female sex, and accelerated fetal/infant growth were associated with increased overweight risk.
  • Accelerated postnatal growth showed a particularly strong association (OR: 6.39).
  • Higher infant polyunsaturated fat intake was linked to a reduced risk of overweight (OR: 0.77).

Conclusions:

  • Parental factors, socioeconomic status, growth patterns, and infant diet significantly influence preschool overweight development.
  • These identified risk factors warrant further investigation as targets for early intervention programs.
Abstract

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