Associations between lifestyle interventions during pregnancy and childhood weight and growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Maternal health and lifestyle during pregnancy may be critical for the onset and progression of childhood obesity. Prenatal lifestyle interventions have been shown to positively affect maternal behaviors, gestational weight gain, and anthropometric outcomes in infants at birth. The influence of such interventions on child weight or growth beyond birth is unknown. We therefore examined the association between lifestyle interventions during pregnancy and anthropometric outcomes during childhood. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in three electronic databases, two clinical trial registers and further sources, without language or publication status restrictions. Additionally, 110 study authors were contacted to obtain unpublished data. Randomized controlled trials comparing any antenatal lifestyle or behavioral intervention to standard prenatal care, in women of any body mass index (BMI), with offspring anthropometric data at 1 month of age or older, were considered. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration's updated tool. Data on weight, length, and BMI, and corresponding z-scores, were stratified into six age ranges and weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated in univariate and multivariate random-effects meta-analytical models. RESULTS: Twenty trials comprising 11,385 women were included in this systematic review, of which 19 were combined in meta-analyses. Overall, lifestyle interventions during pregnancy were not associated with differences in weight, length, BMI, or corresponding z-scores, in children aged 1 month to 7 years (e.g. weight in 5 to 6 month old children, WMD: 0.02 kg; 95% CI: - 0.05 to 0.10 kg, I2 = 38%; 13 studies, 6667 participants). Findings remained consistent when studies were stratified by maternal baseline BMI or other risk factors, and intervention content and duration. Based on the GRADE criteria, the strength of the body of evidence was considered moderate. CONCLUSION: Prenatal lifestyle interventions were not shown to influence childhood weight or growth. Nevertheless, women should be encouraged to pursue a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Further efforts to establish early prevention strategies for childhood obesity are urgently needed. Thus, large, high-quality studies with pre-planned, long-term follow-ups are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42018118678 .

Increasing nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is associated with sex-dependent differences in early childhood growth: the GUSTO mother-offspring cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) is common and underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Longer-term offspring outcomes are also not well documented. This study aimed to determine if NVP, even in milder forms, is associated with adverse pregnancy and childhood growth outcomes. METHODS: In the GUSTO prospective mother-offspring cohort, women with singleton pregnancies (n = 1172) recruited in first trimester responded to interviewer-administered questions at 26-28 weeks' gestation about earlier episodes of NVP since becoming pregnant. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained from medical records. Offspring height and weight measured at 15 time-points between birth to 72 months (m) were standardised for age and sex. RESULTS: 58.5% (n = 686) reported mild-moderate vomiting (mNVP), 10.5% (n = 123) severe vomiting (sNVP) and 5.7% (n = 67) severe vomiting with hospitalisation (shNVP). There was no difference in odds of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, labour induction or caesarean section after adjustment for covariates. sNVP was associated with late preterm delivery [34+ 0-36+ 6 weeks', adjusted OR = 3.04 (95% CI 1.39,6.68)], without increased odds of neonatal unit admission. Compared with no NVP, boys born to mothers with sNVP were longer at birth [adjusted ß = 0.38 standard deviations (SDs) (95% CI 0.02,0.73)], remained taller [0.64 SDs (0.23,1.04) at 72 m] and heavier [0.57 SDs (0.05,1.08) at 60 m] without differences in BMI. Conversely, girls born to mothers with shNVP were lighter from 48 m [- 0.52 SDs (- 1.00, - 0.03)] onwards with lower BMI [- 0.61 SDs (- 1.12,-0.09)]. Conditional growth modelling revealed significant sex-divergence in weight-gain at birth-3 m, 6-9 m and 4-5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Severe NVP was associated with late preterm delivery, and both mild-moderate and severe NVP associated with sex-dependent differences in early childhood growth. Boys whose mothers had NVP were taller and heavier from birth with faster growth in the first year, whereas, girls had poorer weight gain and were lighter by 48 m. As even milder severities of NVP could have long-term impact on offspring growth, further research is needed to determine mechanisms involved and implications on future health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01174875 .

Child height gain is associated with consumption of animal-source foods in livestock-owning households in Western Kenya.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the pathways between household livestock and child growth by assessing the relationships between consumption of animal-source foods (ASF) and child growth and evaluating the household livestock correlates of child consumption of ASF. DESIGN: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of anthropometry and 3 d feeding recalls among children <5 years old between June 2014 and May 2015. In addition, we collected data on wealth, livestock ownership and livestock diseases in the same households. We used linear and negative binomial mixed models to evaluate the relationships between household livestock characteristics, reported consumption of ASF and child growth. SETTING: An 1800-household surveillance catchment area in Western Kenya within the structure of human and animal health surveillance systems. SUBJECTS: Children (n 874) <5 years old. RESULTS: Among children >6 months old, reported frequency of egg and milk consumption was associated with increased monthly height gain (for each additional report of consumption over 3 d: adjusted ß (95 % CI)=0·010 (0·002, 0·019) cm/month and 0·008 (0·004, 0·013) cm/month, respectively). Poultry ownership was associated with higher reported frequency of egg, milk and chicken consumption (adjusted incidence rate ratio (95 % CI)=1·3 (1·2, 1·4), 1·4 (1·1, 1·6) and 1·3 (1·1, 1·4), respectively). Some livestock diseases were associated with lower reported frequency of ASF intake (livestock digestive diseases-adjusted incidence rate ratio (95 % CI)=0·89 (0·78, 1·00)). CONCLUSIONS: Child height gain was associated with milk and egg consumption in this cohort. ASF consumption was related to both household livestock ownership and animal health.

The production diversity of subsistence farms in the Bolivian Andes is associated with the quality of child feeding practices as measured by a validated summary feeding index.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity of a summary infant and child feeding index (ICFI) and the association with the index of factors related to agricultural production. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey in eight health-post jurisdictions identified as priority nutrition regions. All households with children aged 6-23 months in eligible communities were administered an integrated survey on agricultural production and nutrition-related practices. Quantitative 24 h dietary recall, food frequency data and anthropometric measurements were collected for each child. Ninety-one per cent of eligible families participated. SETTING: The northern region of the Potosí department in the Bolivian highlands. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and fifty-one households with children aged 6-23 months. RESULTS: In multiple regression models controlling for potential confounding variables, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices as measured by an ICFI showed positive associations with child length-for-age Z-score (mean difference of 0·47 in length-for-age Z-score between children in the high ICFI tertile compared with the low tertile), child energy intake (mean difference of 1500 kJ between tertiles) and the micronutrient adequacy of child diets (mean difference of 7·2 % in mean micronutrient density adequacy between tertiles; P < 0·05). Examining determinants of IYCF practices, mother's education, livestock ownership and the crop diversity of farms were positively associated with the ICFI, while amount of agricultural land cultivated was negatively associated with the ICFI. Crop diversity and IYCF practices were more strongly positively correlated among households at high elevations. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition-sensitive investments in agriculture that aim to diversify subsistence agricultural production could plausibly benefit the adequacy of child diets.

An updated estimate of the body dimensions of US children.

Anthropometric data from children are important for product design and the promulgation of safety standards. The last major detailed study of child anthropometry in the USA was conducted more than 30 years ago. Subsequent demographic changes and the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity render those data increasingly obsolete. A new, large-scale anthropometric survey is needed. As an interim step, a new anthropometric synthesis technique was used to create a virtual population of modern children, each described by 84 anthropometric measures. A subset of these data was validated against limited modern data. Comparisons with data from the 1970s showed significant changes in measures of width and circumference of the torso, arms and legs. Measures of length and measurements of the head, face, hands and feet exhibited little change. The new virtual population provides guidance for a comprehensive child anthropometry survey and could improve safety and accommodation in product design. Practitioner Summary: This research reviews the inadequacies of available sources of US child anthropometry as a result of the rise in the rates of overweight and obesity. A new synthesised database of detailed modern child anthropometry was created and validated. The results quantify changes in US child body dimensions since the 1970s.

Early-life family meal participation and anthropometric measures at 4 years of age.

Early-life family meal participation has been associated with several aspects of nutritional health, but longitudinal associations with linear growth have not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether family meal participation at 12 months of age associates with anthropometric measures 3 years later. We used follow-up data from children born to mothers in the Norwegian Fit for Delivery trial (NFFD) and included 368 first-borns with dietary and anthropometric data at 12 months and 4 years of age. We treated the sample as a cohort and conducted subgroup analyses by randomization status. A family meal participation score was used as exposure, and weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) as outcomes in crude and multivariable linear regression models adjusted for maternal education, randomization status, and child sex.Higher family meal participation score at 12 months was positively associated with length at 12 months (B = 0.198, 95% CI 0.028, 0.367, p = 0.022) and 4 years (B = 0.283, 95% CI 0.011, 0.555, p = 0.042) in multivariable models. After additional adjustment for maternal height the associations attenuated and were no longer significant. An inverse association with BMI at 4 years of age was observed in children born to mothers that had been exposed to the NFFD intervention (B = -0.144, 95% CI -0.275, -0.014, p = 0.030), but attenuated after adjustment for maternal BMI.The longitudinal association observed between early family meal participation and child height was largely explained by maternal height. The relationship with BMI differed according to maternal participation in a lifestyle intervention trial during pregnancy.

Area level indirect exposure to extended conflicts and early childhood anthropometric outcomes in India: a repeat cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Protracted, internal conflicts with geographic variations within countries, are an important understudied community exposure for adverse child health outcomes. METHODS: Violent events from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) between January 2016-December 2020 and January 2010-December 2015, were included as exposure events for children sampled in National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) 5 (2019-21) and NFHS 4 (2015-16), respectively. Geocoded data from UCDP were merged with residential clusters from NFHS, to identify children living in villages or urban blocks situated at <= 50 km from conflict sites. Within these clusters, which we defined as conflict exposed, we studied risks of stunting, underweight and wasting in children, prenatally, and in 0-3 years. We assessed sensitivity on a subsample of siblings with discordant conflict exposures. RESULTS: For NFHS 5, exposure to violence between 0 and 3 years was associated with 1.16 times (95% CI 1.11-1.20) higher risks of stunting, 1.08 (1.04, 1.12) times higher risks of underweight, and no change in wasting. In-utero violence exposure was associated with 1.11 times (95% CI 1.04-1.17) higher risks of stunting, 1.08 (95% CI 1.02-1.14) times higher risks of underweight, and no change in wasting, among children <= 2 years. In 17,760 siblings of 8333 mothers, exposure to violence during 0-3 years, was associated with a 1.19 times higher risk of stunting (95% CI - 0.24 to 0.084). Incremental quartiles of violence exposure had higher risks of stunting and underweight until quartile 3. CONCLUSION: In-utero and early childhood indirect exposure to protracted conflicts were associated with increased stunting and underweight in India. Given the continued exposures of such historically and contextually rooted internal conflicts in many LMICs, chronic violence exposures should be targeted in public health policies as important social and political determinant of child health.

Nutritional status of children under 5 years old in Namibia: adjusting for poor quality child anthropometry.

The poor assessment of child malnutrition impacts both national-level trends and prioritisation of regions and vulnerable groups based on malnutrition burden. Namibia has reported a high prevalence of malnutrition among children younger than 5 years of age. The present study's aim was to identify the optimal methods for estimating child stunting and wasting prevalence in Namibia using two datasets with suspected poor data quality: Namibia Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) (1992-2013) and Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey (NHIES), 2015/16. This comparative secondary data analysis used two prevalence estimation methods: WHO flags and PROBIT. WHO flags is the standard analysis method for most national household surveys, while the PROBIT method is recommended for poor quality anthropometry. In NHIES (n 4960), the prevalence of stunting (n 4780) was 30·3 and 20·9 % for the WHO flags and PROBIT estimates, respectively, and the national wasting prevalence (n 4637) was 11·2 and 4·2 %, respectively. The trends in nutritional status from NDHS and NHIES showed improvement across WHO flags and PROBIT until 2013; however, from 2013 to 2016, PROBIT showed smaller increases in stunting and wasting prevalence (2·5 and 0·6 percentage points) than WHO flags (6·6 and 5·0 percentage points). PROBIT identified the Khoisan ethnic group and Northern geographical regions with the highest stunting and wasting prevalence, while WHO flags identified similar prevalence across most groups and regions. The present study supports the recommendation to use PROBIT when poor data quality is suspected for constructing trends, and for targeting regions and vulnerable groups.

The prevalence and socio-demographic risk factors of coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under five years in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Childhood stunting, wasting and underweight are significant public health challenges. There is a gap in knowledge of the coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under five years (under-5) in Bangladesh. This study aims to (i) describe the prevalence of the coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight and ii) examine the risk factors for the coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under-5 in Bangladesh. METHODS: This study included 6,610 and 7,357 under-5 children from Bangladesh Demographic Health Surveys (BDHS) 2014 and 2017/18, respectively. The associations between the coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight and independent variables were assessed using the Chi-square test of independence. The effects of associated independent variables were examined using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight gradually declined from 5.2% in 2014 to 2.7% in 2017/18. Children born with low birth weight ((adjusted incidence rate ratios, aIRR) 2.31, 95% CI 1.64, 3.24)); children of age group 36-47 months (aIRR 2.26, 95% CI 1.67, 3.08); children from socio-economically poorest families (aIRR 2.02, 95% CI 1.36, 2.98); children of mothers with no formal education (aIRR 1.98, 95% CI 1.25, 3.15); and children of underweight mothers (aIRR 1.73, 95% CI 1.44, 2.08) were the most important risk factors. Further, lower incidence among children with the coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight was observed in the 2017-18 survey (aIRR 0.59, 95% CI 0.49, 0.70) compared to children in the 2014 survey. CONCLUSIONS: One out of thirty-five under-5 children was identified to have coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight in Bangladesh. The burden of coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight was disproportionate among children born with low birth weight, socio-economically poorest, a mother with no formal education, and underweight mothers, indicating the need for individual, household, and societal-level interventions to reduce the consequences of coexistence of stunting, wasting, and underweight.

Child dietary diversity and food (in)security as a potential correlate of child anthropometric indices in the context of urban food system in the cases of north-central Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation of child dietary diversity and household food insecurity along with other socio-demographic with child anthropometric indices in north-central Ethiopia, an area with a high level of food insecurity and inadequate diet quality. DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional study was used. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in Dessie and Combolcha towns of north-central Ethiopia from April to May 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Randomly selected 512 mother-child pairs with child's age range of 6-59 months. RESULTS: The mean (± SD) scores of weight-for-height/length, height/length-for-age, weight-for-age, and BMI-for-age Z-scores were 1.35 (± 2.03), - 1.89 (± 1.79), 0.05 (± 1.54), and 1.39 (± 2.06), respectively. From all anthropometric indicators, stunting and overweight/obesity remained the severe public issues hitting 43% and 42% of the children, respectively. In the model, mothers' age and education and child's age, sex, and dietary diversity were significantly related with child height-for-age Z-score while place of residence, sex of household head, child's age, and dietary diversity score were the predictors of child BMI-for-age Z-score in the urban contexts of the study area. Nevertheless, food insecurity was not related to any of the child anthropometric indices. CONCLUSION: The double burden of malnutrition epidemics (stunting and obesity) coexisted as severe public health concerns in urban settings. Anthropometric statuses of children were affected by multidimensional factors and seek strong integration and immediate intervention of multiple sectors.

Nutritional Assessment and Maternal Perception of Toddler Body Size using Toddler Silhouette Scale in Nigeria a Developing Country.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The toddler silhouettes scales have been validated in the caucascian population in developing countries but in the African population, the use of these scales is yet to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of mothers on the body size of toddlers using a validated scale in an African population. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study of 241 mothers and their toddlers. Study participants were recruited from the immunization and pediatric clinics. The mothers' perceptions of the body sizes of toddlers and their own child was determined with the use of a validated 7-scale toddler silhouette. Each mother also assessed their own child with the scale. Each child's anthropometry was documented. RESULTS: Majority of the mothers were able to correctly classify the underweight (95.0%) and overweight toddler silhouettes (95.7%). However, 30% of the respondents misclassified Silhouette 6 (overweight silhouette) as normal and 48.2% of the respondents misclassified a normal silhouette as underweight. The overall maternal accuracy in assessing their toddler size was 41.1%. There was a significant relationship between maternal accuracy and the maternal educational status, tribe, and toddler size. CONCLUSIONS AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: Toddler silhouette scales is a quick way of assessing the body size of children and could be of significant use in the developing countries. There is a need for caregivers to accurately assess the body size of their children as this will significantly influence the food mothers will give their children and thus children's eventual growth and development.

Development of a three-dimensional body shape model of young children for child restraint design.

The design of child restraints is guided in part by anthropometric data describing the distributions of body dimensions of children. However, three-dimensional body shape data have not been available for children younger than three years of age. This study presents body shape models for children weighing 9-23 kg in a seated posture relevant to child restraint design. A laboratory study collected surface geometry data of 67 children, ages 12-58 months. Novel template fitting methods were employed to obtain homologous meshes and to standardize the posture. Principal component analysis and regression were used to develop a statistical body shape model (SBSM). The SBSM was exercised to create 18 manikins representing children aged 1-3 years, with varying size and shape. These manikins will be useful for assessing child accommodation in restraints. The SBSM can also provide guidance for the development of anthropomorphic test devices and computational models of child occupants.

Heterogeneity in predictive power of early childhood nutritional indicators for mid-childhood outcomes: Evidence from Vietnam.

We utilize longitudinal data on nearly 1800 children in Vietnam to study the predictive power of alternative measures of early childhood undernutrition for outcomes at age eight years: weight-for-age (WAZ8), height-for-age (HAZ8), and education (reading, math and receptive vocabulary). We apply two-stage procedures to derive unpredicted weight gain and height growth in the first year of life. Our estimates show that a standard deviation (SD) increase in birth weight is associated with an increase of 0.14 (standard error [SE]: 0.03) in WAZ8 and 0.12 (SE: 0.02) in HAZ8. These are significantly lower than the corresponding figures for a SD increase in unpredicted weight gain: 0.51 (SE: 0.02) and 0.33 (SE: 0.02). The heterogeneity of the predictive power of early childhood nutrition indicators for mid-childhood outcomes reflects both life-cycle considerations (prenatal versus postnatal) and the choice of anthropometric measure (height versus weight). Even though all the nutritional indicators that involve postnatal nutritional status are important predictors for all the mid-childhood outcomes, there are some important differences between the indicators on weight and height. The magnitude of associations with the outcomes is one aspect of the heterogeneity. More importantly there is a component of height-for-age z-score (at age 12 months) that adds predictive power for all the mid-childhood outcomes beyond that of birth weight and weight gain in the first year of life.

Avaliação do crescimento de crianças escolares / Assessing schoolchildren's growth / Evaluación del crecimiento de los niños em edad escolar

Objetivo: avaliar o crescimento de crianças do ensino fundamental matriculadas em uma escola pública no município de Macaé, Rio de Janeiro. Método: estudo transversal de abordagem quantitativa. Participaram da pesquisa 217 escolares com idades entre seis e 14 anos. A análise de dados foi feita pelo software RStudio® e o Teste de Exato de Fisher foi utilizado, considerando índice de confiança de 95%. Protocolo de pesquisa aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultado: no turno matutino, identificou-se que o segundo ano apresentou uma maior proporção de crianças com peso adequado para idade (90,48%). No turno vespertino, a maior proporção de crianças com IMC adequado para idade está no primeiro ano (83,33%). Na relação IMC/idade, identificou-se diferença estatística significativa entre os alunos do quinto ano manhã/tarde (p-valor=0,0278). Conclusão: os resultados apontam a necessidade de uma orientação/educação alimentar e em saúde para as crianças e suas famílias, a fim de obter um crescimento mais adequado para a idade.

Objective: to evaluate the growth of lower secondary school children at a public school in the town of Macaé, Rio de Janeiro. Method: in this quantitative, cross-sectional study of 217 schoolchildren between six and 14 years old, the data were analyzed using RStudio® software and Fisher's Exact Test was used, to a 95% confidence level. The research protocol was approved by the research ethics committee. Result: in the morning shift, the second year was found to have the highest proportion (90.48%) of children with weight appropriate to their age. In the afternoon shift, the highest proportion of children with BMI appropriate to their age was found in the first year (83.33%). A statistically significant difference in the relationship BMI-to-age was found between morning and afternoon fifth-year students (p-value of 0.0278). Conclusion: the results point to the need for nutritional and health guidance and education for children and their families, in order to foster growth more appropriate to their age.

Objetivo: evaluar el crecimiento de niños en edad escolar matriculados en una escuela pública de la ciudad de Macaé, Rio de Janeiro. Método: estudio transversal con enfoque cuantitativo. Participaron en la investigación un total de 217 niños con edades comprendidas entre seis y 14 años. El análisis de los datos se realizó mediante el software RStudio® y se utilizó la Prueba Exacta de Fisher, considerando un nivel de confianza del 95%. El protocolo de investigación fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigación. Resultado: en el turno de la mañana se encontró que el segundo año tuvo mayor proporción de niños con peso adecuado para su edad (90,48%). En el turno de la tarde, la mayor proporción de niños con un IMC adecuado para su edad se encuentra en el primer año (83,33%). En la relación entre el IMC y la edad, se identificó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los estudiantes de quinto año de la mañana/tarde (P-valor de 0,0278). Conclusión: los resultados apuntan hacia la necesidad de orientación/educación nutricional y en salud a niños y familias, para obtener un crecimiento más adecuado respecto a su edad.

Comparison of associations of maternal peri-pregnancy and paternal anthropometrics with child anthropometrics from birth through age 7 y assessed in the Danish National Birth Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Maternal prepregnancy adiposity may influence child adiposity beyond the transmitted genetic effects, which, if true, may accelerate the obesity epidemic, but the evidence for this mechanism is inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess whether the associations of maternal body mass index (BMI) with child anthropometric measurements from birth through infancy and at 7 y of age exceed those of paternal associations. DESIGN: In the Danish National Birth Cohort, information on parental and child anthropometric measures is available for 30,655 trio families from maternal interviews during pregnancy and the postpartum period and from a 7-y follow-up. By using multiple linear and logistic regression models of child SD (z) scores of weight and BMI at birth, 5 mo, 12 mo, and 7 y of age, and of child overweight at age 7 y, we compared associations with maternal prepregnancy and postpartum BMI z scores and with paternal BMI z scores. RESULTS: When comparing maternal-child and paternal-child BMI z score associations, the strongest associations were observed with mothers' BMI at birth [maternal and paternal BMI z scores: 0.143 (95% CI: 0.130, 0.155) and 0.017 (95% CI: 0.005, 0.029), respectively] and throughout infancy, but the relative difference in the associations declined by child age [for BMI z score at child age 7 y per maternal and paternal BMI z scores: 0.208 (95% CI: 0.196, 0.220) and 0.154 (95% CI: 0.143, 0.166), respectively]. At 7 y of age, ORs of child overweight were 2.30 (95% CI: 1.99, 2.67) by maternal overweight and 1.96 (95% CI: 1.74, 2.21) by paternal overweight. There were no differences between the results based on maternal BMI before and after pregnancy or on child's weight adjusted for length or height. CONCLUSIONS: The associations of child weight and BMI with maternal BMI were stronger than with paternal BMI. The differences between the associations were strong at birth but declined with child aging.

Maternal overweight/obesity characteristics and child anthropometric status in Jos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: This study is to determine the pattern of overweight and obesity and its relationship with childhood anthropometric status in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jos, Nigeria. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used in data collection. Maternal and child anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard WHO methods. Child anthropometric Z scores were obtained from WHO Anthroplus while BMI of mothers were also determined. Totally, 262 mother-child pairs were recruited. RESULTS: Mean maternal age and mean child age were 30.8 ± 6.3 yrs (15-47 yrs) and 22.3 ± 18.7 months (3-72 months). Prevalence of maternal underweight, overweight and obesity was 4.2% (11/262), 29.4% (77/262) and 25.9% (68/262), respectively. Child overweight/obesity was 5.4% (14/262), severe under-nutrition 5.7% (15/262). Mean maternal BMI was higher in the older, more educated and higher socioeconomic status (SES). Child mean birth-weight, weight-for-age Z-score and BMI-for-age Z-score (BAZ) were higher among mothers with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2). All large-for-age babies were in mothers with maternal BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2). Childhood over-nutrition was more common in maternal BMI of ≥25 kg/m(2). Overall, BAZ was directly related with maternal BMI, maternal age and birth-weight, although it was inversely related with maternal BM I ≥ 25 kg/m(2). CONCLUSION: Higher BMI is seen in educated and higher SES mothers and this impact on childhood anthropometry.