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Centre-based childcare in early childhood and growth in later childhood: a prospective cohort study

Michaela D Kucab1,2, Charles D G Keown-Stoneman3,4, Catherine S Birken5,6,7,8,9

  • 1Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|April 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Attending full-time centre-based childcare is linked to lower childhood obesity rates, especially for lower-income families. This suggests childcare can be a key strategy in preventing childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Centre-based childcare influences child health behaviors, but its link to childhood obesity is unclear.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for public health initiatives.
  • Early childhood health behaviors impact long-term well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between early childhood centre-based childcare attendance and body mass index z-score (zBMI) in later childhood.
  • To investigate if family income, child sex, or non-centre-based settings modify this association.
  • To explore the impact on weight status categories.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 3503 children aged 1-10 years (TARGet Kids! cohort).
  • Linear mixed-effect and generalized estimating equation models used to analyze zBMI and weight status.
  • Adjusted for confounders and explored effect modification by family income, child sex, and setting.

Main Results:

  • Full-time (40h/week) centre-based childcare was associated with lower zBMI at 4 and 7 years and reduced odds of overweight/obesity at 4 years.
  • No significant association was found at 10 years for the general cohort.
  • Children from lower-income families (<$50,000 CDN) attending full-time childcare showed significantly lower zBMI and odds of overweight/obesity at 10 years.

Conclusions:

  • Early childhood centre-based childcare attendance is linked to lower zBMI and reduced odds of overweight and obesity in later childhood.
  • The protective effect on weight status was more pronounced in children from lower-income families.
  • Centre-based childcare presents a potential early intervention strategy for preventing childhood obesity.
Abstract

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