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Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[Influence of neonatal anthropometry on the comorbidities of the obese patient]
Rocío González-Leal1, Julián Martínez-Villanueva1, Jesús Argente2
1Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España.
Insights
Small for gestational age (SGA) newborns who are obese face higher risks of metabolic issues and shorter adult height. Early identification of SGA in obese children is crucial for managing these health concerns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Small for gestational age (SGA) newborns have an elevated risk for conditions like short stature, obesity, and metabolic disturbances.
- Obesity in childhood is a growing concern with long-term health implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term outcomes in obese children and adolescents based on their neonatal size (SGA vs. adequate for gestational age - AGA).
- To compare metabolic profiles and adult height prediction between SGA and AGA obese pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 883 obese children (mean age 10.33±3.32 years) was prospectively followed for 5 years.
- Neonatal anthropometry (SGA vs. AGA) was used to stratify patients for comparisons of growth, metabolic parameters, and adult height.
- Key metrics included BMI-SDS, glycaemia, insulinaemia, lipid profiles, 25-OH vitamin D, and adult height prediction.
Main Results:
- Obese patients born SGA exhibited significantly worse lipid profiles and carbohydrate metabolism compared to AGA peers.
- SGA patients demonstrated higher glycaemia, insulin resistance (HOMA), and lower insulin sensitivity (WBISI).
- Lower 25-OH vitamin D levels and poorer adult height prediction were observed in the SGA group, despite similar skeletal maturation and IGF levels.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal size (SGA) is a significant factor associated with increased metabolic comorbidities in obese children.
- SGA background in obese pediatric patients correlates with poorer adult height outcomes.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering neonatal history in managing obese children and adolescents.
Introduction:
Small for gestational age (SGA) newborns show an increased risk of several diseases such as short stature, childhood obesity, and metabolic comorbidities.
Patients And Methods:
The study included 883 obese patients (47% females/53% males; mean age: 10.33±3.32 years, BMI:+3.93±1.42 SD), with prospective follow-up (5 years) of growth, recording adult height when achieved (n=104). Comparisons at diagnosis, according to their neonatal anthropometry; adequate for gestational age (AGA; n=810) vs. SGA (n=73), were performed for the following features: age at their first visit, standardised height for target height (Z-score), bone age, adult height prediction, BMI (Z-score), glycaemia, insulinaemia, HOMA, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, 25-OH-vitamin D, area under the curve (AUC) for glucose and insulin in the OGTT, LDL/HDL and triglyceride/HDL ratio, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) serum levels.
Results:
Despite similar BMI-SDS, ethnic, and pubertal distribution in both groups, patients with SGA showed more severe changes in lipid profile (triglyceride and triglyceride/HDL ratio, both P<.05) and carbohydrate metabolism (higher glycaemia, glucose and insulin AUCs, HOMA, HbA1c and lower whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI), all P<.05) and lower 25-OH vitamin D levels (P<.05). They also showed a poorer adult height prediction (adjusted for target height) (P<.01), despite a similar degree of advance in skeletal maturation and similar IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels than AGA patients.
Conclusions:
The background of SGA neonatal anthropometry is associated with a higher prevalence and severity of metabolic comorbidities and to a poorer adult height prediction in obese children and adolescents.
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