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The double burden of malnutrition and gross motor development in infants: A cross-sectional study
Brian M Cavagnari1, Darío Javier Guerrero-Vaca2, Tannia Valeria Carpio-Arias3
1School of Nutrition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Insights
Chronic undernutrition in infants is linked to delayed gross motor development, impacting milestones like sitting and crawling. Public health interventions are crucial to address this double burden of malnutrition and support healthy infant development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- The double burden of malnutrition, encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition, presents a significant global health challenge.
- Infant malnutrition can have profound and lasting effects on development, including motor skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the double burden of malnutrition and gross motor development in infants.
- To identify specific motor milestones affected by chronic undernutrition.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 5900 infants under 24 months participating in the ENSANUT-ECU study.
- Nutritional status assessed using body mass index-for-age (BAZ) and height-for-age (HAZ) z-scores.
- Logistic regression models used to evaluate the relationship between malnutrition and six key gross motor milestones.
Main Results:
- Chronically undernourished infants showed significantly lower probabilities of achieving sitting without support, crawling, and walking without support.
- Delays were observed in sitting without support at six months, crawling at eight months, and walking without support at 12 months in undernourished infants.
- Overweight/obesity was not significantly associated with most gross motor milestones, except for sitting without support.
Conclusions:
- Chronic undernutrition is a significant predictor of delayed gross motor development in infants.
- Targeted public health strategies are essential to combat the double burden of malnutrition and mitigate its adverse effects on infant motor development.
Objective:
The objective of the present work was to study the relationship between the double burden of malnutrition and gross motor development in infants.
Method:
ology: Sample included 5900 infants under 24 months of age, participants of the ENSANUT-ECU study. To evaluate nutritional status, we calculated z-scores for body mass index/age (BAZ) and height/age (HAZ). Six gross motor milestones were considered: sitting without-support, crawling, standing and walking with-support, standing and walking without-support. Data was analysed using logistic regression models in R.
Results:
Independently form age, sex and other socio-economic factors, the probability of achieving three gross motor milestones was significantly lower among chronically undernourished infants compared to their peers: sitting without-support, crawling, and walking without-support. Compared to no malnourished infants the probability of sitting without-support at six months was 10% lower for chronically undernourished infants (0.70, 95%CI [0.64-0.75]; 0.60, 95%CI [0.52-0.67]; respectively). The probability of crawling at eight months and walking without-support at 12 months were also significantly lower among chronically undernourished infants (0.62, 95%CI [0.58-0.67]); 0.25, 95%CI [0.20-0.30]; respectively) in comparison to no malnourished infants (0.67, 95%CI [0.63-0.72]); 0.29, 95%CI [0.25-0.34]; respectively). Obesity/overweight was not associated with the achievement of gross motor milestones, except for sitting without-support. Chronically undernourished infants with low or high BMI/age were generally delayed in the achievement of gross motor milestones than their peers.
Conclusions:
Chronic undernutrition is related to delayed gross motor development. Public health measures are needed to be implemented to prevent the double burden of malnutrition and its detrimental effects on infant development.
