Latent Class Analysis of Prenatal Characteristics and Their Associations With Early Childhood Weight

Identify patterns of obesity-related prenatal characteristics across ecological system levels and examine associations with child weight at 2 years old.

Secondary analyses were conducted using data from 533 low-income Hispanic families enrolled in a childhood obesity prevention intervention. Prenatal characteristics were assessed during the 3rd trimester and child weights at 2 years. Latent class analysis was conducted to identify groups of pregnant individuals with different patterns of prenatal characteristics. Associations between class membership and child weight outcomes at age 2 years were examined using the manual Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars method, controlling for intervention status.

Three groups were identified: Non-US born/Lower adverse SDOH (51%), Non-US born/Higher adverse SDOH (25%) and US born/Lower adverse SDOH (24%). Children of participants in the Non-US born/Higher adverse SDOH had significantly higher weight-for-age z-scores and higher odds of overweight or obesity compared to children of participants in the Non-US born/Lower adverse SDOH (M_diff = 0.61, SE = 0.21, p = 0.003, 95% CI [0.27, 0.95]; aOR = 2.83, 95% CI [1.09, 2.59]) and Non-US born/Higher adverse SDOH burden (M_diff = 0.55, SE = 0.20, p = 0.006, 95% CI [0.22, 0.89]; aOR = 2.83, 95% CI [1.09, 2.59]).

Higher concurrent levels of psychosocial stressors and material hardships during pregnancy may pose a particular risk for excess weight in early childhood, especially for children of non-US-born pregnant individuals.