Title
Child-care use and the association with body mass index and overweight in children from 7 months to 2 years of age
Author
Gubbels, J.S.
Kremers, S.P.J.
Stafleu, A.
Dagnelie, P.C.
de Vries, N.K.
van Buuren, S.
Thijs, C.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2010
Abstract
Objectives:Studies regarding the association of child-care use with body mass index (BMI), overweight or obesity development show contradictory results. This study examined the relationship between child-care use and BMI z-scores and overweight, as well as associates of child-care use in children up to 2 years old.Methods:Longitudinal data originated from the Dutch KOALA Birth Cohort Study. Questionnaires assessed child-care use at ages 7 months and 1 and 2 years (N=2396). Height and weight assessed at 1 and 2 years were used to calculate BMI z-scores. Overweight was defined as a BMI z-score of ≥85th percentile. The influence of child-care use on weight development was tested using backward linear and logistic regression analyses. Outcomes were: (1) BMI z-score at 1 and 2 years; (2) change in BMI z-score between 1 and 2 years; (3) overweight vs non-overweight at 1 and 2 years; and (4) change from normal weight to overweight vs remaining normal weight between 1 and 2 years. The association between child-care use and parental background characteristics was tested using backward logistic regression analyses.Results:Child-care use (no/yes) at 1 and 2 years positively predicted BMI z-scores at age 2 years, as well as change in BMI z-score between 1 and 2 years. These associations were adjusted for various covariates (for example, parental working hours). Furthermore, child-care use significantly increased the odds of being overweight at age 1year. There were few differences in BMI or overweight between intensive (<16 h per week) and limited child-care use (≤16 h). Child-care use was positively associated with various parental characteristics, including parental working hours and maternal educational level.Conclusion:The findings suggest a small influence of child-care use on weight development in very young children. The child-care setting could have an important role in preventive interventions against overweight and obesity development in young children. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.
Subject
Health
Leefomgeving en gezondheid
child care
day care
kindergarten
overweight
parent
preschool child
article
body height
body mass
child
child care
educational status
female
human
infant
male
obesity
preschool child
priority journal
questionnaire
working time
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:89f62037-d6ce-4432-83a7-530dc24c6675
TNO identifier
425181
ISSN
0307-0565
Source
International Journal of Obesity, 34 (10), 1480-1486
Document type
article