Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication 11 November 2009; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2009.132
BMI at 4 years of age is associated with previous and current protein intake and with paternal BMI
Contributors: IÖ is the main author of this paper; she has also participated in the planning of the study, food data collection and analyses. OH and TL contributed to the planning and data analyses and in writing the manuscript. AH took part in the data analyses and in writing of the manuscript. HS took part in the statistical analyses.
I Öhlund1,2, O Hernell2, A Hörnell1, H Stenlund3 and T Lind2
- 1Department of Food and Nutrition, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- 2Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- 3Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Correspondence: Dr I Öhlund, Department of Food and Nutrition and Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå SE 901 87, Sweden. E-mail: inger.ohlund@kost.umu.se
Received 26 May 2009; Revised 22 September 2009; Accepted 2 October 2009; Published online 11 November 2009.
Abstract
Objectives:
To evaluate possible associations between body mass index (BMI) at 4 years of age, current and previous dietary intakes and parental BMI.
Methods:
A follow-up of dietary intake and anthropometry in 127 4-year-old children corresponding to 54% of children who completed an initial intervention study at 18 months of age.
Results:
Fourteen percent of the girls and 13% of the boys were overweight (age-adjusted BMI
25) and 2% of the girls and 3% of the boys were obese (age-adjusted BMI30). Thirty-four percent and 9% of the fathers and 19 and 7% of the mothers were overweight and obese, respectively. BMI at 6–18 months was a strong predictor of BMI at 4 years. Univariate regression analyses revealed that intake of protein in particular, and also of total energy and carbohydrates at 17/18 months and at 4 years, was positively associated with BMI at 4 years. Although BMI at 6–18 months was the strongest predictor of BMI at 4 years, in the final multivariate models of the child's BMI, protein intake at 17–18 months and at 4 years, energy intake at 4 years and the father's—but not the mother's—BMI were also independent contributing factors.
Conclusions:
Among these healthy children, BMI at 4 years of age tracked from 6 to 18 months of age and were associated with previous and current protein intake as well as parental BMI, particularly that of the father.
Keywords:
body mass index, protein, dietary intake, child, heredity, predictors
