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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Associations of Body Mass Index Growth Rates and Body Composition With Cardiometabolic Risks in Chinese Preschool
Zijun Liao1, Jing Wang2, Yiren Chen1
1Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China.
Insights
Rapid body mass index (BMI) growth in early childhood is linked to higher risks of abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels in 3-year-olds. Boys showed greater susceptibility to adverse cardiometabolic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern with potential long-term health consequences.
- Understanding the early predictors of cardiometabolic risk is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) growth rates, body composition, and cardiometabolic markers in preschool children.
- To identify sex-specific differences in these relationships.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 3015 children, with BMI data from 1 month to 3 years.
- Body composition and cardiometabolic markers (lipids, uric acid, glucose) measured at age 3.
- Statistical analysis using piecewise linear mixed models and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Accelerated BMI z-score growth between 6-24 months correlated with higher triglycerides and LDL-C.
- Obesity increased risks for high triglycerides and remnant cholesterol in boys.
- Fat mass was linked to high uric acid and dyslipidemia in boys; fat-free mass showed mixed associations in both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Early BMI growth trajectory and body composition significantly impact cardiometabolic health in 3-year-olds.
- Sex, birthweight, and gestational age influence these relationships, with boys showing higher vulnerability.
Objective:
To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) growth rates, body composition, and cardiometabolic markers in preschool children.
Methods:
Three-year-old children were recruited for this cohort study. BMI and body composition measurements were obtained at enrollment, with multiple BMI measurements spanning ages 1 month to 3 years extracted from medical records. Levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), remnant cholesterol (RC), uric acid (UA), and fasting plasma glucose were measured at 3 years. Data analyses employed piecewise linear mixed models and logistic regression models.
Results:
Out of 3822 children recruited, 3015 were included in the analysis. The accelerated BMI z-score growth rate between 6 and 24 months was positively correlated with high TG and LDL-C levels, with sex, birthweight, and size for gestational age disparities. Obesity increased the risks of high TG level and the highest RC quartile in boys. Fat mass index and percentage of fat mass were linked with high UA level and dyslipidemia, particularly high TG and non-HDL-C levels, in boys. Fat-free mass index showed negative associations with high levels of TC and non-HDL-C in boys and high LDL-C level in girls (P < .05).
Conclusion:
This study underscores the significant impact of BMI growth rates and body composition on cardiometabolic markers in 3-year-old children. The effects of BMI growth rates in specific periods varied by sex, birthweight, and size for gestational age, and boys exhibited a higher susceptibility to adverse outcomes.
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