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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
The association between Healthy Beverage Index and anthropometric measures among children: a cross-sectional study
Yahya Jalilpiran1,2, Hadis Mozaffari3, Mohammadreza Askari1
1Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 1416643931, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
The Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) in children was linked to increased risks of wasting and underweight. High-fat milk consumption, however, was associated with reduced wasting risk in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Childhood Obesity
- Public Health
Background:
- Beverage consumption patterns significantly influence children's health.
- Limited research exists on the link between beverage consumption patterns and anthropometric indices in children.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for developing targeted nutritional interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) and anthropometric measures in 6-year-old girls.
- To identify specific beverage consumption patterns related to child growth and development.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 788 children from health centers in Tehran, Iran.
- Data collection included beverage intake, socio-demographic factors, physical activity, and anthropometric measurements.
- The Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) was calculated based on established criteria.
Main Results:
- Higher HBI scores were associated with increased odds of wasting and underweight/wasting in children, even after adjusting for confounders.
- Consumption of high-fat milk, a component of the HBI, showed an inverse association with the odds of wasting.
- Confounders adjusted for included maternal age and BMI, physical activity, socioeconomic status, and children's energy intake.
Conclusions:
- The Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) in children is associated with higher odds of wasting and underweight/wasting.
- High-fat milk consumption may play a protective role against wasting in children.
- Further prospective research is recommended to validate these findings and explore causal relationships.
Purpose:
Several studies evaluated the associations between specific beverages and cardio-metabolic risks among children. However, the evidence on the association between patterns of the beverage consumption and children's anthropometric indices is rare. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the association between Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) and anthropometric measures among 6-year-old girl children.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 788 children selected from health centers in Tehran, Iran. Data on beverage intake, socio-demographic, physical activity, and anthropometric characteristics were evaluated using reliable and validated standard protocols. The predefined HBI was calculated based on the previous research.
Results:
After controlling for several confounders [mother age, mother body mass index, mother physical activity, socioeconomic status, children physical activity and energy intake, total oils (all kinds of oils like animal and plant oils), and total sweet foods (sweet foods except sweetened beverages)], being in the third compared to the first tertile of HBI among children was associated with increased odds of wasting (OR: 5.16; 95% CI 1.5-17.79) and underweight/wasting (OR: 1.81; 95% CI 1.07-3.07). Among the HBI components, just being in the third compared to the first tertile of high-fat milk was inversely associated with decreased odds of wasting (OR: 0.18; 95% CI 0.04-0.73).
Conclusions:
The HBI among children was associated with higher odds of wasting and underweight/wasting. In addition, high-fat milk consumption decreased the odds of wasting among children. Further prospective studies need to confirm these results.
Level Of Evidence:
Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.
