Overweight in Two-Year-Olds: The Impact of Ethnicity and Early Life Factors
Author Information
Author(s): de Hoog Marieke LA, van Eijsden Manon, Stronks Karien, Gemke Reinoud JBJ, Vrijkotte Tanja GM
Primary Institution: Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam
Hypothesis
Overweight at age 2 years will be more prevalent in children from ethnic minorities and early life factors associated with overweight may explain these differences.
Conclusion
Turkish and Moroccan children in the Netherlands have 2- to 3-fold higher odds for being overweight at age 2 years, largely attributed to maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and weight gain during the first 6 months of life.
Supporting Evidence
- The prevalence of overweight was higher in Turkish (19.8%) and Moroccan (16.7%) children compared to Dutch (7.1%).
- Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI explained part of the ethnic differences in overweight.
- Weight gain during the first 6 months of life was a significant postnatal factor contributing to ethnic disparities.
Takeaway
Some kids from Turkish and Moroccan backgrounds are more likely to be overweight by age 2, and this is often linked to their mom's weight before pregnancy and how much they gain in their first few months.
Methodology
Data were derived from a multi-ethnic cohort in the Netherlands, assessing weight and height of 3,156 singleton infants at age 2 years using logistic regression analysis.
Potential Biases
Self-reported maternal pre-pregnancy BMI may lead to underestimation of actual BMI.
Limitations
The study may underestimate the prevalence of overweight due to higher educational levels and age of Dutch mothers in the response group, and some ethnic groups were under-represented.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 3,156 children from five ethnic groups: Dutch native, African descent, Turkish, Moroccan, and other non-Dutch.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95%CI: 1.56-4.53 for Turkish; 95%CI: 1.31-3.38 for Moroccan
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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