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Published on: February 18, 2012
Longitudinal growth changes from birth to 8-9 years in preterm and full term births
Rasheda J Vereen1, Nicole R Dobson2, Cara H Olsen3
1National Capital Consortium Pediatrics Residency (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), Bethesda, MD, USA.
Insights
Younger adiposity rebound (AR) age and faster early weight gain predict higher childhood BMI. These factors are crucial indicators for identifying children at risk of later obesity, regardless of birth status.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Growth and Development
- Obesity Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Adiposity rebound (AR) age is linked to future obesity risk in term-born infants.
- Limited research exists on AR age in preterm infants.
- Understanding early growth patterns is vital for predicting long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of adiposity rebound (AR) timing and early growth on 8-9 year old children's growth.
- To compare these effects in both term-born and preterm infants.
- To analyze the relationship between AR and later obesity risk in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Collected anthropometric data (birth, 6 months, 8-9 years) from 175 infants.
- Calculated body mass index (BMI), Z-scores, and age at adiposity rebound (AR).
- Analyzed correlations between AR age, early weight change, and BMI Z-scores at 8-9 years.
Main Results:
- AR age was similar for term (5.4 years) and preterm (5.3 years) infants.
- Younger AR age strongly correlated with higher BMI Z-scores at 8-9 years (r = -0.685) in both groups.
- Increased weight Z-score change from birth to 6 months predicted higher weight Z-scores at 8-9 years (p = 0.034).
Conclusions:
- Earlier adiposity rebound (AR) is a significant predictor of higher BMI in later childhood for both term and preterm infants.
- Rapid weight gain in the first 6 months is associated with increased weight Z-scores at 8-9 years.
- Both younger AR age and substantial early weight gain are critical indicators for identifying children at risk of developing obesity.
Background:
The aim of this study is to assess the effect of age at adiposity rebound (AR) and changes in growth between birth and 6 months on growth status at 8-9 years in children born term and preterm. Age at AR is inversely correlated with risk for later obesity in children born full term, but has not been analyzed in children born preterm.
Methods:
Birth anthropometrics, and weight and length/height data from age 6 months through 8-9 years were recorded for 175 children born in 2008 in the military health system. Calculated variables include body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), Z-scores, and age at AR.
Results:
Age at AR could be calculated for 150 children (32% preterm); average age was 5.4 years and 5.3 years for children born term and preterm, respectively (NS). For children born term and preterm, there was a significant correlation between younger age at AR and higher BMI Z-score at 8-9 years (r = - 0.685), and a direct relationship between weight Z-score change from birth to 6 months and weight Z-scores at 8-9 years (p = 0.034).
Conclusions:
Younger age at AR correlates with higher BMI Z-score at 8-9 years in children born both term and preterm. Weight gain from birth to 6 months correlates with weight Z-score at 8-9 years. These results emphasize the importance of younger age at AR in addition to greater early weight gain as an indicator of later obesity.
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