Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs That May Influence Infant Feeding Practices in American Indian Mothers

The promotion of healthy infant feeding is increasingly recognized as an important obesity prevention strategy. This is relevant for American Indian (AI) populations, who exhibit high levels of obesity and low compliance with infant feeding guidelines. The literature examining the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs (KAB) surrounding infant feeding within the AI population is sparse and focuses primarily on breastfeeding, with limited information on the introduction of solid foods and related practices that may be important in an obesity prevention context. This research presents descriptive findings from a baseline KAB questionnaire on infant feeding and related behaviors, administered to mothers (n=438) from five Northwest AI tribes that participated in the Prevention of Toddler Overweight and Teeth Health Study (PTOTS). Enrollment occurred during pregnancy or up to 6 months postpartum. The KAB questionnaire focused on themes of Breastfeeding/Formula Feeding and Introducing Solid Foods, with supplemental questions on Physical Activity. Knowledge questions were multiple-choice or true/false. Attitudes and beliefs were assessed on Likert scales. Descriptive statistics included frequencies and percents, and means and standard deviations. Most women knew basic breastfeeding recommendations and facts, but fewer recognized the broader health benefits of breastfeeding (e.g., reducing diabetes risk), or knew when to introduce solid foods. Women believed breastfeeding to be healthy and perceived their social networks to agree. Attitudes and beliefs about formula feeding and social support were more ambivalent. This work suggests opportunities to increase the perceived value of breastfeeding to include broader health benefits, increase knowledge about solid foods, and strengthen social support

Micronutrient Malnutrition, Obesity, and Chronic Disease in Countries Undergoing the Nutrition Transition: Potential Links and Program/Policy Implications

Background: The nutrition transition occurring in many developing countries may invite the misconception that diets are moving entirely away from undernutrition toward problems of excess. But despite the sufficiency of energy in these countries, diet quality is poor and micronutrient deficiencies often remain. In this context, micronutrient deficiencies may actually contribute to the development and severity of diet-related chronic diseases. Objectives: This paper discusses the potential long-term effects of micronutrient malnutrition in early childhood on obesity and related disease outcomes. The links between early micronutrient malnutrition, stunting, and subsequent short adult stature— emerging risk factors for obesity and associated chronic diseases—are reviewed. This paper also explores recent literature linking micronutrient malnutrition in adults to increased risk and severity of chronic disease. Finally, this paper discusses the program and policy implications of these relationships. Methods: Literature searches on the topics of interest were conducted in Medline. This paper is not the result of a systematic literature review, but rather discusses relevant literature to bring attention to links between under- and over-nutrition that have not been widely considered. Conclusions: In children, micronutrient malnutrition is a cause of stunting and may be accompanied by metabolic adaptations that increase the risk of later obesity and related disease. In adults, deficiencies in key micronutrients may promote oxidative stress, folate deficiency may increase risk for heart disease, and zinc deficiency may be exacerbated in the presence of diabetes while also affecting glucose transport. Low fruit and vegetable consumption may additionally increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer through a variety of mechanisms. The importance of supporting programs and policies that address the spectrum of malnutrition, including micronutrient malnutrition and emerging obesity together, is stressed

The association between diet and height in the post-infancy period changes with age and socioeconomic status among Filipino youths

PRISI; IFPRI3; Health, Diet and NutritionFCN

Growth patterns of Filipino children indicate potential compensatory growth

PRIFPRI3; ISIFCN

potential links and program/policy implications

This paper discusses the potential long-term effects of micronutrient malnutrition in early childhood on obesity and related disease outcomes. The links between early micronutrient malnutrition, stunting, and subsequent short adult stature — emerging risk factors for obesity and associated chronic diseases—are reviewed. This paper also explores recent literature linking micronutrient malnutrition in adults to increased risk and severity of chronic disease. Finally, this paper discusses the program and policy implications of these relationships. This paper is not the result of a systematic literature review, but rather discusses relevant literature to bring attention to links between under- and over-nutrition that have not been widely considered. Conclusions: In children, micronutrient malnutrition is a cause of stunting and may be accompanied by metabolic adaptations that increase the risk of later obesity and related disease. In adults, deficiencies in key micronutrients may promote oxidative stress, folate deficiency may increase risk for heart disease, and zinc deficiency may be exacerbated in the presence of diabetes while also affecting glucose transport. Low fruit and vegetable consumption may additionally increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer through a variety of mechanisms. The importance of supporting programs and policies that address the spectrum of malnutrition, including micronutrient malnutrition and emerging obesity together, is stressedNon-PRIFPRI1FCN

The Prevalence of Rapid Weight Gain in Infancy Differs by the Growth Reference and Age Interval Used for Evaluation

Background: Infant rapid weight gain (RWG) may predict subsequent obesity, but there are inconsistencies in the growth references and age intervals used for assessment. Methods: This study evaluated whether the prevalence of RWG (an increase of \u3e0.67 in weight-for-age z-score) differed by growth reference (2006 WHO standards vs 2000 CDC references) and age interval of assessment (0–3, 0–6, 6–12 and 0–12 months). Pooled data from singleton term infants from two observational studies on maternal mood disorders during pregnancy were used (n = 161). Differences in RWG prevalence by growth reference and age interval were tested using Cochran’s Q and McNemar’s tests. Results: The CDC reference produced a higher RWG prevalence (14% of infants additionally categorized as RWG, p \u3c 0.0001) within the 0–3 month age interval compared to the WHO standards; this pattern was reversed for the 6–12 and 0–12 month intervals. RWG prevalence did not differ across age interval within the WHO standards, but did differ with the CDC references (range: 22% for 0–3 months to 4.2% for 6–12 months, p \u3c 0.0001). Conclusions: Caution is advised when comparing studies with different criteria for RWG. Future studies should use the 2006 WHO standards and a consistent age interval of evaluation

The overlap of overweight and anemia among women in three countries undergoing the nutrition transition

PRISI; IFPRI3FCN

Pregnancy Weight Gain in Twin Gestations and Maternal and Child Health Outcomes at 5 Years.

Current guidelines for maternal weight gain in twin pregnancy were established in the absence of evidence on its longer-term consequences for maternal and child health. We evaluated the association between weight gain in twin pregnancies and the risk of excess maternal postpartum weight increase, childhood obesity, and child cognitive ability