Low birth weight is associated with increased fat intake in school-aged boys

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Metabolic Health
• Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)

Background:

• High and low birth weight are associated with increased adult obesity and metabolic syndrome risk.
• Previous research indicates altered feeding behaviors in low birth weight individuals.
• Understanding childhood dietary patterns related to birth weight is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between birth weight and the intake of fat, carbohydrates, and protein in children aged 6-12 years.
• To explore potential sex-specific differences in these dietary patterns.
• To identify early nutritional markers related to birth weight that may influence long-term health.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 255 children (130 boys, 125 girls) aged 6-12 years.
• Guardians completed online/telephone questionnaires including anthropometrics, demographics, parental food rules, and a web-based Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).
• Linear regression models were used, with analyses conducted separately for each sex and adjusted for income, age, and maternal age.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in total energy intake were observed based on birth weight.
• In boys, lower birth weight was associated with higher energy density (ED) intake, primarily driven by increased fat consumption.
• In girls, a positive correlation between fat/cholesterol intake and birth weight was noted, but not with ED after adjustments.

Conclusions:

• Low birth weight is associated with altered fat intake in childhood, exhibiting sex-specific patterns.
• Biological factors, potentially fetal programming of appetite and preference pathways, likely underlie these associations.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering birth weight in childhood nutrition and obesity prevention strategies.