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When obesity begins: anthropometric and demographic characteristics of California WIC child participants
Author(s) -
Papathakis Peggy Callaghan,
Nazmi Aydin,
Phelan Suzanne,
Engle Patrice
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1060.6
Subject(s) - medicine , overweight , anthropometry , obesity , demography , body mass index , pediatrics , endocrinology , sociology
Aim to determine rates of overweight (OW) and obesity (OB) by demographic and anthropometric factors in children enrolled in 2004–2009 in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara county WIC programs. Methods longitudinal measurements were collected on 60,190 mother/child pairs. Using CDC growth standards, weight‐forlength z‐ scores (WLZ) were calculated from birth through 24 mo; BMI z‐ scores (BMIZ) were calculated from 24 to 57 mo. Proportion OW and OB were defined as WLZ and BMIZ ≥1.036 (>;85%tile)and >;1.645 respectively (>;95%tile). Results The overall prevalence of OW/OB was 28.9%/13.2% at 12 mo, 27.8%/12.4% at 24 mo, and 40.1%/22.2% at 57 months. At 12 mo, OW was significantly (p<0.05) higher in children who were male (30.6 vs 27.2%), non‐white Hispanic (29.5 vs 26.3% in whites) and formula fed for 6 months (39.0 vs 25.5% in breastfed). OW children had mothers who were <100% of poverty level (29.5 vs 27.1% in 185% poverty), with no education (33.8 vs 26.3% in 13+ yr education) and BMI >;30 (33.6 vs 24.4% in BMI 18.5–24.9). Similar demographic characteristics were observed at 57 months and for obese children. Conclusion Obesity begins in early life and is particularly prevalent among low income, non‐white Hispanic children whose mothers are obese and with low education.