Abstract
To overcome methodologic defects (failure to control for confounding factors, univariate statistical analyses) in previous studies of etiologic determinants of childhood adiposity, we carried out a prospective cohort study of 462 healthy, full-term infants followed from birth to 12 mo. Post-partum, we obtained sociodemographic data and administered 2 recently validated scales of maternal attitudes toward feeding and infant body habitus. Parental height and weight and infant feeding variables were determined by interview during the 12 mo. At 6 and 12 mo, we measured height, weight, and triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac skinfolds. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine independently predictive factors for weight (W), body mass index (BMI=wt/ht2), and the sum of the 3 skinfolds (SF).
Birthweight, age at introduction of solids, sex, breast feeding, and father's relative weight were all significant predictors of W at 12 mo (R2=.291; P<.0001). For BMI, age at introduction of solids, birthweight, and sex (R2=.119; P .0001), and for SF, birthweight and breast feeding (R2=.041; P<.004), were significant determinants. Similar results were obtained at 6 mo, though slightly less of the variance was explained. We conclude that the ability to predict which babies will be fat during the first 12 mo is limited. Breast feeding and delayed introduction of solids do offer some protective effect, however, and thus our efforts to encourage these practices may be reaping some benefit.
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Kramer, M., Barr, R., Pless, I. et al. DETERMINANTS OF WEIGHT AND ADIPOSITY IN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF LIFE. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 184 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00549
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00549