Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Associations between Diet Quality and Body Composition in Young Children Born with Very Low Body Weight
Meghan McGee1,2, Sharon Unger1,3,4,5, Jill Hamilton1,3,6
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Improving diet quality in children born very low birth weight (VLBW) with obese mothers may prevent excess adiposity. Higher diet quality scores were linked to reduced BMI and subscapular z-scores in this VLBW cohort.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Infants born very low birth weight (VLBW) face higher risks of adult adiposity and metabolic diseases.
- Childhood diet quality is a potential predisposing factor, but its association with body composition in VLBW individuals remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between diet quality (using the Healthy Eating Index-2010; HEI-2010) and body composition in 5.5-year-old children born VLBW.
- To determine if HEI-2010 scores, fruit/vegetable intake, added sugar consumption, and macronutrient profiles correlate with adiposity in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study followed 158 children born VLBW (mean birth weight 1013g, gestational age 27.9 weeks).
- Dietary intake was assessed using two 24-hour recalls (ASA24), calculating HEI-2010 scores.
- Body composition (BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, fat-free mass) was evaluated using linear regressions.
Main Results:
- The average HEI-2010 score was 58.2, with 27% of children having poor diet quality (scores ≤50).
- Higher HEI-2010 scores showed an inverse association with BMI z-scores and subscapular z-scores, particularly in children of obese mothers.
- A 10-point increase in HEI-2010 score correlated with a 0.5 SD decrease in BMI z-score.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing diet quality in VLBW children, especially those born to obese mothers, is a potential strategy to mitigate excess adiposity.
- This finding highlights the importance of nutritional interventions for VLBW survivors to improve long-term metabolic health.
Background:
Very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) infants have increased adiposity and metabolic disease risk in adulthood. Limited evidence suggests low-quality childhood diets are a predisposing risk factor. Despite this, to our knowledge no study has yet examined associations between diet quality and body composition in VLBW individuals.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to determine associations between Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) scores and consumption of fruits/vegetables, added sugars, and macronutrients with body composition in 5.5-y-old children born VLBW. We hypothesized HEI-2010 scores were inversely associated with adiposity.
Methods:
This cohort study leveraged the 5.5-y follow-up to the Donor Milk for Improved Neurodevelopmental Outcomes randomized controlled trial. From June 2016 to July 2018, participants attended a follow-up visit at The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada, or were visited in their home. All 316 surviving infants from the trial were eligible, and the caregivers of 158 children (50%; 53% male) consented to follow-up. Diet quality (HEI-2010) and usual intake of fruits/vegetables, added sugars, and macronutrients were determined from two 24-h dietary recalls (ASA24). Linear regressions evaluated associations of diet with BMI (kg/m2) and waist circumference z-scores, total fat, fat-free mass (air displacement plethysmography), and skinfolds.
Results:
Mean ± SD age at follow-up was 5.7 ± 0.2 y, birth weight was 1013 ± 264 g, and gestational age was 27.9 ± 2.5 wk. Dietary data and BMI z-scores were available for all children; 123 completed air displacement plethysmography. HEI-2010 score was 58.2 ± 12.4 out of 100, and 27% of children had poor quality diets (scores ≤50). HEI-2010 scores were inversely associated with BMI z-score, but only in children with obese mothers. A 10-point increase in HEI-2010 score was associated with reduced BMI (β: -0.5 SD; 95% CI: -0.7, -0.2) and subscapular (-0.3 SD; 95% CI: -0.6, -0.06) z-scores.
Conclusions:
Improving diet quality in children born VLBW with obese mothers may be an important strategy to prevent excess adiposity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as Optimizing Mothers' Milk for Preterm Infants (OptiMoM) Program of Research: Study 1-Impact of Donor Milk at Kindergarten, NCT02759809.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Dietary Connections
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
01:24Obesity
01:10Nature and Nurture