Paper
International Journal of Obesity (2005) 29, 60–66. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802848 Published online 9 November 2004
Preschool child care and risk of overweight in 6- to 12-year-old children
J C Lumeng1, K Gannon2, D Appugliese2, H J Cabral2 and B Zuckerman3
- 1Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- 2Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- 3Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
Correspondence: Dr JC Lumeng, Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, 300 North Ingalls Building, 10th Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0406, USA. E-mail: jlumeng@umich.edu
Received 4 February 2004; Revised 19 August 2004; Accepted 4 October 2004; Published online 9 November 2004.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To determine if there is a relationship between center-based child care attendance from ages 3 to 5 y and future overweight at ages 6–12 y.
DESIGN/METHODS:
Longitudinal, observational study of child experience and future body mass index.
SUBJECTS:
A total of 1244 US children aged 6–12 y included in the 1997 Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement.
MEASUREMENTS:
Parent-reported child care attendance from ages 3 to 5 y, trichotomized as 'none', 'limited' (>0 but <15 h/week), and 'extensive' (
15 h/week). Overweight defined as a body mass index 95th percentile for age and gender. Candidate covariates (selected a priori): gender, race, age, poverty status, birth weight, hours of television per day, Behavior Problems Index score >90th percentile, and Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment-Short Form (HOME-SF) cognitive stimulation score.
RESULTS:
Of the potential confounding variables, race, HOME-SF cognitive stimulation score, and age significantly altered the relationship between child care attendance and overweight in the multiple logistic regression model. With these covariates in the final model, limited center-based child care attendance from ages 3 to 5 y was independently associated with a decreased risk of overweight at ages 6–12 y (adjusted odds ratio=0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.34, 0.93) relative to no child care attendance. Extensive center-based child care attendance was not associated with future overweight.
CONCLUSIONS:
Limited center-based child care attendance during the preschool years was independently associated with a decreased risk of future overweight relative to no child care attendance. Additional studies are needed to clarify these findings.
Keywords:
child care, child, child development, panel study of income dynamics
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