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Early life course risk factors for childhood obesity: the IDEFICS case-control study

Karin Bammann1, Jenny Peplies2, Stefaan De Henauw3

  • 1Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany ; BIPS Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany.

Plos One
|February 20, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Parental body mass index (BMI) and excessive gestational weight gain are key risk factors for childhood obesity. Prevention strategies should involve adults and focus on monitoring maternal weight during pregnancy.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Public Health Nutrition
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing concern, with the early life course considered a critical developmental period.
  • The interplay of various pre-, peri-, and postpartum factors contributing to childhood obesity requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine pre-, peri-, and postpartum risk factors associated with childhood obesity.
  • To identify significant predictors of obesity in children aged 2 to 9 years.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study nested within the IDEFICS population-based intervention study.
  • Involved 1,024 matched case-control pairs across 8 European countries.
  • Utilized conditional logistic regression to identify risk factors for childhood obesity.

Main Results:

  • Gestational weight gain, smoking during pregnancy, Caesarian section, and breastfeeding duration showed associations with obesity risk.
  • Maternal and paternal BMI were identified as the strongest risk factors, confounding other associations.
  • After adjusting for parental BMI and education, only gestational weight gain remained statistically significant.

Conclusions:

  • Parental BMI and gestational weight gain are critical risk factors for childhood obesity.
  • Prevention efforts should target both children and adults, with a focus on maternal weight monitoring.
  • Early intervention strategies are crucial for mitigating childhood obesity risks.
Abstract

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