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Body Composition Growth Patterns in Early Infancy: A Latent Class Trajectory Analysis of the Ethiopian iABC Birth
Gregers Stig Andersen1, Rasmus Wibaek1,2, Pernille Kaestel2
1Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark.
Insights
Infant body composition shows varied fat growth patterns in the first six months. These distinct patterns, including delayed and catch-up fat growth, are crucial for understanding future obesity risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Growth and Development
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Early infant growth significantly influences long-term health outcomes.
- Standard anthropometric measurements may not capture nuanced body composition changes.
- Understanding infant body composition trajectories is key to identifying risks for later metabolic disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct subgroups of infants based on fat and fat-free mass growth patterns during the first six months of life.
- To describe predictors associated with these identified growth patterns.
- To explore the implications of these patterns for future health risks.
Main Methods:
- Latent class trajectory analysis applied to longitudinal data from 510 Ethiopian infants.
- Repeated measurements of fat and fat-free mass using air-displacement plethysmography (ADP).
- Analysis covered the period from birth to six months of age.
Main Results:
- Four distinct fat mass growth patterns and two fat-free mass growth patterns were identified.
- Specific patterns included delayed fat growth (5% of infants) and catch-up fat growth (3% of infants).
- A significant proportion exhibited high birth fat and accelerated fat growth, while catch-up growth was predominantly observed in fat mass.
Conclusions:
- Distinct patterns of delayed, catch-up, and accelerated fat growth exist in early infancy.
- These variations in body composition are not detectable through standard anthropometric assessments.
- Early infant growth trajectories in body composition may serve as a mechanism linking early development to later obesity and cardiometabolic risk.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to identify subgroups with distinct fat and fat-free growth patterns in the first 6 months of life and describe predictors of these different patterns.
Methods:
A total of 510 apparently healthy Ethiopian infants were followed from birth to 6 months of age. Each infant had at least three and up to six repeated measurements of fat and fat-free mass using air-displacement plethysmography. Latent class trajectory analyses were used to categorize infants in groups with distinct body composition patterns.
Results:
Four distinct fat mass and two fat-free mass growth patterns were identified. Of the infants measured, 5% presented a delayed fat growth pattern and 3% presented a catch-up fat growth pattern involving low birth weight but a significant fat growth velocity from 2.5 to 6 months. A large class had a high fat level at birth and an accelerated fat growth pattern in early infancy. Fat-free growth was represented by two distinct classes with less variability. Catch-up growth was primarily seen in fat mass.
Conclusions:
We identified distinct patterns of delayed, catch-up, and accelerated fat growth in early infancy. This variability is not detected in regular anthropometric assessment and could be a mechanism linking early growth with later obesity and cardiometabolic risk.
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