Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine body mass index (BMI) and waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) growth patterns from birth until five years regarding their ability to predict overweight or obesity in children at five years of age.

Methods: Population‐based longitudinal birth cohort study of 1540 children from the south‐west region of Sweden, recruited at the first visit to the child health care centres in 2007–2008. The children were followed for five years and classified into two weight groups according to the 2012 International Obesity Task Force criteria. BMI and WHtR standard deviation scores (SDS) were analysed with Student's t‐tests and multiple logistic regression models. ©2018 Foundation Acta Pædiatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Results: BMI‐SDS and WHtR‐SDS growth patterns were from an early age different in children with overweight or obesity, compared to in children with normal weight or underweight. Overweight or obesity was significantly predicted by BMI‐SDS at 0–1 month (p < 0.001), ΔBMI‐SDS between 0–1 and 12 months (p < 0.001) and between 18 and 48 months (p < 0.001), but not by WHtR‐SDS, except for a negative association between 18 and 48 months in the boys (p = 0.040).

Conclusion: Overweight or obesity at five years could be predicted by early BMI‐SDS growth patterns, and WHtR‐SDS did not add to the predictivity with regard to BMI‐SDS. ©2018 Foundation Acta Pædiatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Background:  Abdominal adiposity is an important risk factor in the metabolic syndrome. Since BMI does not reveal fat distribution, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) has been suggested as a better measure of abdominal adiposity in children, but only a few studies cover the preschool population. The aim of the present study was to examine BMI and WHtR growth patterns and their association regarding their ability to identify children with an elevated WHtR at 5 years of age.

Methods: A population-based longitudinal birth cohort study of 1540 children, followed from 0 to 5 years with nine measurement points. The children were classified as having WHtR standard deviation scores (WHtRSDS) <1 or ≥1 at 5 years. Student’s t-tests and Chi-squared tests were used in the analyses.

Results: Association between BMISDS and WHtRSDS at 5 years showed that 55% of children with WHtRSDS ≥1 at 5 years had normal BMISDS (p < 0.001). Children with WHtRSDS ≥1 at 5 years had from an early age significantly higher mean BMISDS and WHtRSDS than children with values <1.

Conclusions: BMI classification misses every second child with WHtRSDS ≥1 at 5 years, suggesting that WHtR adds value in identifying children with abdominal adiposity who may need further investigation regarding cardiometabolic risk factors.

© 2018, International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.

Background: Rapid weight gain (RWG) during infancy increases the risk of excess weight later in life. Nutrition- and feeding practices associated with RWG need to be further examined. The present study aimed to examine nutrition- and feeding practice-related risk factors for RWG during the first year of life.

Methods: A population-based longitudinal birth cohort study of 1780 infants, classified as having RWG or non-RWG during 0–3-4, 0–6 and 6–12 months. RWG was defined as a change > 0.67 in weight standard deviation scores. Associations between nutrition- and feeding practice-related factors and RWG were examined with logistic regression models.

Results: Of the participating infants, 47% had RWG during 0–3-4 months, 46% during 0–6 months and 8% during 6–12 months. In the fully adjusted models, bottle-feeding at birth and at 3–4 months and nighttime meals containing formula milk were positively associated with RWG during 0–3-4 months (p < 0.05 for all). Breastfeeding at 3–4 months and nighttime meals containing breast milk were negatively associated with RWG during this period

(p < 0.001). Bottle-feeding at birth, 3–4 and 6 months and nighttime meals containing formula milk at 3–4 months were positively associated with RWG during 0–6 months (p < 0.01 for all). Breastfeeding at 3–4 and 6 months was negatively associated with RWG (p < 0.01). During 6–12 months, only bottle-feeding at 3–4 months was positively associated with RWG (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: RWG was more common during the first 6 months of life and bottle-feeding and formula milk given at night were risk factors for RWG during this period. © 2020, The Author(s).

Objective: To examine early life risk factors for an elevated waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) at 5 years of age. A second aim was to examine if the same risk factors also were associated with overweight or obesity at the same age.

Methods: A population-based longitudinal birth cohort study of 1,540 children, from the southwestern part of Sweden, born between October 2007 and December 2008. The children were classified as having ≥ 1 or < 1 in WHtR standard deviation scores (SDS) at five years of age, according to Swedish reference values and as having overweight/obesity or normal weight/underweight according to the IOTF. 

Results: At five years of age, 15% of the children had WHtR_SDS ³ 1 and 11% had overweight or obesity. In multivariable analyses, RWG during 0-6 months (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.95), maternal pre- pregnancy BMI (1.06, 1.01,1.11) and paternal BMI (1.11, 1.01-1.21) were associated with a WHtR_SDS ³ 1 at five years. RWG during 0-6 months (2.53, 1.53, 4,20), during 6-12 months (2.82, 1.37, 5.79) and maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (1.12, 1.06,1.17) was associated with overweight or obesity at 5 years of age.

Conclusions: Risk factors operating early in life are associated with an elevated WHtR and overweight or obesity at 5 years of age. Preventive interventions should especially address early RWG and parental overweight.