Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Association between neonatal conditions and anthropometric indicators among children attending daycare centers in
Luiz Felipe de Paiva Lourenção1, Lara Campos Borim1, Laura Thaciane Rodrigues Cassiano1
1Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Faculdade de Nutrição, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
Insights
Neonatal factors and food insecurity are linked to excess weight in children, not short stature. Early interventions are crucial for addressing these early-life determinants of childhood obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Child Development
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Early life factors significantly influence long-term health outcomes.
- Understanding the interplay between neonatal conditions, socioeconomic status, and nutritional status in early childhood is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between neonatal conditions and anthropometric indicators in children attending daycare.
- To describe the prevalence of food insecurity among these children.
- To identify early-life determinants of nutritional status, particularly excess weight.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 139 children in Early Childhood Education Centers in Brazil.
- Data collection included neonatal conditions, socioeconomic factors, food insecurity, and nutritional status (Height-for-age Z-score [HAZ] and Body Mass Index-for-age Z-score [BAZ]).
- Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR).
Main Results:
- Prevalence of overweight (BAZ) was 34.4% and short stature (HAZ) was 22.6%.
- BAZ was significantly associated with birth weight, food insecurity, socioeconomic status, and high-risk pregnancy.
- Higher food insecurity levels correlated with higher BAZ, while lower socioeconomic status showed an inverse association. No significant associations were found for HAZ.
Conclusions:
- Body Mass Index-for-age Z-score (BAZ) is influenced by perinatal and socioeconomic factors.
- Food insecurity plays a significant role in the development of excess weight in early childhood.
- These findings underscore the necessity of early interventions targeting early-life determinants of childhood obesity.
Objective:
To investigate the association between neonatal conditions and anthropometric indicators and to describe food insecurity among children attending daycare centers.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study with 139 children enrolled in Early Childhood Education Centers in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data on neonatal conditions, socioeconomic characteristics, food insecurity, and nutritional status were collected. Height-for-age (HAZ) and body mass index-for-age (BAZ) were classified according to the World Health Organization standards. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR).
Results:
The prevalence of overweight was 34.4%, and short stature was observed in 22.6% of children. Overweight prevalence was 34.4% and short stature 22.6%. BAZ was associated with birth weight (PR = 1.0016; 95%CI:1.0004-1.0028), food insecurity, socioeconomic status, and high-risk pregnancy. Higher food insecurity levels showed higher PRs for BAZ, while lower socioeconomic classes were inversely associated. No associations were observed for HAZ.
Conclusion:
BAZ was associated with perinatal and socioeconomic factors, highlighting early-life determinants of excess weight and the influence of food insecurity, reinforcing the need for early interventions.
