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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Obesity in childhood: A secular trend or an epidemic disease?

Manon A B Ernst1, Willem J M Gerver2, Michelle Y G Simons2

  • 1Regional Public Health Service, South Limburg, The Netherlands Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health and Primary Care (Caphri), Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands m.ernst@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

Journal of Child Health Care : for Professionals Working with Children in the Hospital and Community
|December 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity is a growing concern. This study found no prenatal weight trends but identified significant postnatal increases in weight and BMI from age five, suggesting a metabolic shift.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Anthropometry

Background:

  • Global concern over rising childhood obesity rates.
  • Investigation into the origins of obesity, including prenatal and postnatal factors.
  • Examination of the relationship between weight gain and secular trends in height.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if childhood obesity trends begin prenatally.
  • To analyze the extent to which weight gain relates to secular height trends.
  • To assess changes in weight, height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) over time.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of neonatal birth weight data from three Dutch studies (1970-2007).
  • Analysis of weight, height, and BMI from two nationwide Dutch studies for postnatal trends.
  • Statistical examination of secular trends in anthropometric measurements.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in birth weights were observed between 1970 and 2007.
  • Postnatal data revealed increasing trends in weight and BMI from age five onwards in both genders.
  • Secular trends in height began around age two and a half, with weight increase being more pronounced than height increase.
  • No prenatal secular trend for weight was detected in The Netherlands.
  • Postnatal secular trends were evident for weight, height, and BMI, with increased skewness in weight distribution.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood obesity trends in The Netherlands do not appear to originate during the prenatal period.
  • Significant postnatal increases in weight, height, and BMI are evident from early childhood.
  • The pronounced increase in weight compared to height, and altered weight distribution, may indicate underlying metabolic disturbances in the population.

Keywords:
Child healthchildhoodcommunity carehealth promotion

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