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Effects of birth weight on body composition and overweight/obesity at early school age

Jing Zhou1, Lingxia Zeng2, Duolao Wang3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China.

Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|August 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Higher birth weight is linked to increased risk of overweight and obesity in young boys. This association highlights the need to consider sex differences in childhood obesity prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity prevalence is rising globally.
  • Birth weight is a potential early indicator of later health outcomes.
  • Understanding factors influencing childhood body composition is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between birth weight and body composition in early school-aged children.
  • To determine if birth weight predicts overweight or obesity at ages 7-10.
  • To explore potential sex differences in this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 1669 children (7-10 years) from a micronutrient supplementation trial.
  • Prospective collection of body composition, demographic, and behavioral data.
  • Statistical modeling (generalized estimating equations) to assess trends across birth weight quintiles.

Main Results:

  • Higher birth weight quintiles showed significant upward trends in fat mass index, fat-free mass index, and body fat percentage for both boys and girls.
  • Boys with higher birth weights (third to top quintiles) had increased risk ratios for overweight/obesity compared to the reference group.
  • Prevalence of overweight/obesity was 7.4% in boys and 5.0% in girls.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated birth weight is associated with a higher risk of overweight/obesity in school-aged boys.
  • The findings suggest sex-specific considerations are necessary for interventions targeting childhood obesity.
  • Early life factors like birth weight play a role in long-term body composition and weight status.
Abstract

Keywords:
Birth weightBody compositionEarly school-agedFollow-up studyObesity

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