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Pre-natal and perinatal factors affecting body mass index in pre-pubertal Polish children

Elżbieta Ządzińska1, Iwona Rosset

  • 1Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz , ul. S. Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź , Poland.

Annals of Human Biology
|June 29, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maternal trauma during pregnancy and low birth weight are significant risk factors for underweight in Polish schoolchildren, especially boys. These early life factors impact child health and development, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Public Health
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Childhood body mass deficit is a growing concern in developing nations, particularly Eastern European countries.
  • Limited research exists on the specific risk factors contributing to underweight in schoolchildren and adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate familial, prenatal, and early life factors associated with body mass deficit in children aged 7-10 years.
  • To identify key risk indicators for underweight in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • Logistic regression models were employed to analyze data from 812 children aged 7-10 years.
  • Evaluation focused on familial, prenatal, and perinatal risk factors influencing height-to-weight ratio.

Main Results:

  • Underweight risk was higher in girls (OR=1.70). Maternal trauma during pregnancy increased underweight risk in boys (OR=2.74) but decreased it in girls (OR=0.35).
  • Low birth weight significantly elevated underweight risk in boys (OR=2.99). Maternal occupational activity reduced underweight risk in girls (OR=0.57).

Conclusions:

  • Low birth weight and maternal trauma during pregnancy are identified as critical risk factors for underweight among Polish schoolchildren.
  • These factors pose a particular risk to boys, underscoring the need for sex-specific considerations in preventative strategies.
Abstract

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