Neonatal anthropometrics and correlation to childhood obesity--data from the Danish Children's Obesity Clinic

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neonatal anthropometrics and correlation to childhood obesity--data from the Danish Children's Obesity Clinic

AU - Lausten-Thomsen, Ulrik

AU - Bille, Dorthe Sadowa

AU - Nässlund, Ida

AU - Folskov, Lise

AU - Larsen, Torben

AU - Holm, Jens-Christian

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

N2 - Recent evidence has demonstrated the prenatal initiation of childhood obesity as epidemiological studies and animal studies have illustrated the effect of the intrauterine milieu for subsequent development of childhood obesity. This study investigates the relationship between severe childhood obesity and the preceding in utero conditions expressed by birth weight and birth length, birth-weight-for-gestational-age and neonatal ponderal index in a Danish cohort of 1,171 severely obese children (median age 11.48 years, range 3.13 to 17.98 years) with a mean body mass index-standard derivation score (BMI-SDS) of +2.96 (range +1.65 to +9.72) treated in our national referral centre. In a linear general regression model adjusted for socioeconomic status and breastfeeding duration, a significant linear correlation between BMI-SDS at time of enrolment and both birth weight (p, 3.8 × 10-6) and birth length (p, 6.1 × 10-4), birth-weight-for-gestational-age (p, 4.3 × 10-7) and the neonatal ponderal index (p, 0.02) was demonstrated. Duration of breastfeeding, however, was not found to be significant for either the BMI-SDS/BW or the BMI-SDS/BL correlation. Conclusion: These results indicate that the prenatal period can be considered as a potential window of opportunity for prevention of childhood overweight and obesity and anthropological measurements may in theory be used to help identify neonates at high risk for developing childhood obesity.

AB - Recent evidence has demonstrated the prenatal initiation of childhood obesity as epidemiological studies and animal studies have illustrated the effect of the intrauterine milieu for subsequent development of childhood obesity. This study investigates the relationship between severe childhood obesity and the preceding in utero conditions expressed by birth weight and birth length, birth-weight-for-gestational-age and neonatal ponderal index in a Danish cohort of 1,171 severely obese children (median age 11.48 years, range 3.13 to 17.98 years) with a mean body mass index-standard derivation score (BMI-SDS) of +2.96 (range +1.65 to +9.72) treated in our national referral centre. In a linear general regression model adjusted for socioeconomic status and breastfeeding duration, a significant linear correlation between BMI-SDS at time of enrolment and both birth weight (p, 3.8 × 10-6) and birth length (p, 6.1 × 10-4), birth-weight-for-gestational-age (p, 4.3 × 10-7) and the neonatal ponderal index (p, 0.02) was demonstrated. Duration of breastfeeding, however, was not found to be significant for either the BMI-SDS/BW or the BMI-SDS/BL correlation. Conclusion: These results indicate that the prenatal period can be considered as a potential window of opportunity for prevention of childhood overweight and obesity and anthropological measurements may in theory be used to help identify neonates at high risk for developing childhood obesity.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Birth Weight

KW - Body Height

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Gestational Age

KW - Humans

KW - Infant, Newborn

KW - Linear Models

KW - Male

KW - Pediatric Obesity

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Severity of Illness Index

U2 - 10.1007/s00431-013-1949-z

DO - 10.1007/s00431-013-1949-z

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23371390

SN - 0340-6199

VL - 172

SP - 747

EP - 751

JO - Acta Paediatrica Hungarica

JF - Acta Paediatrica Hungarica

IS - 6

ER -