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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Neighbourhood socio-economic environment predicts adiposity and obesity risk in children under two

Shannon C Conrey1,2, Allison R Burrell1,2, Cole Brokamp1,3

  • 1Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Pediatric Obesity
|November 9, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Neighbourhood socio-economic environment (SEE) impacts child obesity risk before age two. Breastfeeding partially mediates this risk, suggesting support for breastfeeding in disadvantaged areas can reduce childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Obesity Research
  • Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
  • Childhood Adiposity

Background:

  • Neighbourhood socio-economic environment (SEE) is linked to obesity in older populations, but its impact on young children is understudied.
  • The role of breastfeeding in preventing childhood adiposity is established, yet its association with neighbourhood SEE remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between neighbourhood SEE and adiposity in children under two years old.
  • To examine the influence of breastfeeding duration on this association.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the PREVAIL birth cohort (n=245) in Cincinnati, OH.
  • Assessed child BMI z-scores (BMIz) and obesity risk at age two, categorized by neighbourhood SEE (Deprivation Index).
  • Employed longitudinal and Poisson models, controlling for family socio-demographics, and mediation analysis for breastfeeding duration.

Main Results:

  • Living in lower SEE neighbourhoods was associated with increased BMIz (0.04 per month) and higher obesity risk (aRR: 3.7) at age two, independent of family socio-demographics.
  • Breastfeeding duration attenuated over 9% of the obesity risk linked to SEE (mediated RR: 3.4).

Conclusions:

  • Residing in less deprived neighbourhoods is linked to lower BMIz and obesity risk in young children.
  • Breastfeeding duration partially mediates the relationship between neighbourhood SEE and childhood obesity, highlighting its protective role.
Abstract

Keywords:
breastfeedingchild obesityhealth disparitiessocial determinants of healthsocio-economic environment

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