Perinatal predictors of overweight at infancy and preschool childhood: the GENESIS study

Abstract

Objective: To identify those perinatal parameters and characteristics predisposing children to an increased risk of overweight during infancy and preschool years. Design: The analyses were performed using data from the Growth, Exercise and Nutrition Epidemiological Study In preSchoolers. Subjects: A representative sample of 2374 Greek preschoolers 1-5 years old. Measurements: Anthropometric data, such as body weight, recumbent length and standing height, were obtained by using standard procedures and measuring equipment. Structured interviews were conducted with both parents to collect information on anthropometric, demographic, medical and behavioral data. Finally, children's anthropometric data at birth, 6 and 12 months of age were recorded from their birth certificates and medical records. Results: Children born large for gestational age were 4.59 and 2.19 times more likely for being overweight at 6 and 12 months of age, respectively, than children born appropriate for gestational age. On the other hand, children that were exclusively breastfed were 0.49 and 0.54 times less likely for being overweight at 6 and 12 months of age, respectively, than children that were exclusively formula fed. Furthermore, 3-to 5-year-old children born to mothers who were both active and passive smokers during pregnancy were 1.79 times more likely of being overweight compared to children born to nonsmoking mothers. Finally, having an overweight father significantly increased the likelihood of childhood overweight at 12 months, 1-3 and 3-5 years of age. Conclusion: Our findings showed that some of the perinatal parameters and characteristics examined in the current study predict overweight at infancy, while others at preschool years. Priority should be given to size at birth, breastfeeding, maternal smoking during pregnancy and parental overweight, when developing public health strategies to reduce the prevalence of childhood overweight and related chronic disease later in life.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and energy balance in the preschool child: opportunities for early obesity prevention

“…The availability of accelerometry could soon provide a greatlyimproved understanding of the aetiology of obesity in preschool children. A number of new cohort studies are underway in which the focus is the role of the preschool environment in the aetiology of childhood obesity (21,90,91) . These cohort studies should improve understanding of the early aetiology of obesity, although to date few of the new cohort studies appear to have included objective measurements of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in early life, which is a missed opportunity.…”

The Effect of Maternal Beliefs and Behavior on the Body Weight Status of Preschool-aged Children

“…Children born to mothers who were active and passive smokers during pregnancy were almost two times more likely to be obese than those not exposed to smoking during pregnancy (Kitsantas et al, 2010;Moschonis et al, 2008). found that children who were exposed to smoke during pregnancy were at greater risk for being overweight or obese from the age of three to 33 (Oken, Levitan, & Gillman, 2008).…”

“…Infants who are bottle-fed have been shown to have three times greater risk of rapid weight gain through the age of three (Karaolis-Danckert et al, 2008). Studies have shown that babies who were bottle-fed weighed more than breastfed babies as early as three months of age (Bergmann et al, 2003) while infants who were exclusively breastfed were less likely to be overweight or obese at the ages of six and 12 months (Moschonis et al, 2008). In one study of bottlefed children, the rate of overweight or obesity by age four was double that of babies who were breastfed, and that rate tripled by the age of six (Bergmann et al, 2003).…”

“…However, none of these studies have examined how these feeding styles influence a child's body weight status. In addition, studies have not evaluated how pregnancy and infancy factors such as, overweight or obesity at the time of pregnancy (Catalano et al, 2009;Whitaker, 2004), smoking before, during, or after pregnancy Moschonis, Grammatikaki, & Manios, 2008;Olson, Strawderman, & Dennison, 2009), or a lack of breastfeeding during infancy (Karaolis-Danckert et al, 2008;Toschke et al, 2002) moderate the relationship between maternal beliefs and behavior and the child's body weight status. These issues represent significant gaps in the literature.…”

“…One infancy factor is choosing not to breast feed, as breastfeeding during infancy has been shown to be protective against early childhood obesity ( Karaolis-Danckert et al, 2008;Toschke et al, 2002). Lastly, maternal smoking before, during, or after pregnancy has also been shown to be a risk factor for early childhood obesity Moschonis et al, 2008;Olson et al, 2009). …”