Premature birth did not have a pronounced impact on eating behaviour of four-year-old children, but some effects were observed in girls

Aim Feeding of preterm-born children has been extensively studied during infancy. Few studies have focused on later life but the available data indicate that feeding problems may persist after infancy. We studied this topic using two cohorts of full-term and preterm-born children. Methods The Childrens Eating Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess the appetite, food enjoyment, pickiness and neophobia, the fear of new foods, of 347 four-year-old children born in 2009-2011. Of these, 179 (52% boys) were born preterm at 24 to 36 weeks and recruited from paediatric clinics in southeast Sweden. The 168 children (54% boys) born full-term were recruited from a maternity health clinic in the same region. The parents graded 12 statements about their childs eating behaviour from very false to very true. Results A low gestational age at birth was associated with less reported appetite in girls. Estimates describing appetite and food enjoyment correlated with gestational age at birth in girls but not in boys. This difference between boys and girls was significant (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusion Prematurity had no major effects on food-related behaviour in four-year-old children. However, some estimates of reduced appetite and food enjoyment were associated with lower gestational age at birth in girls but not in boys.Funding Agencies|Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden</p

Premature birth was not associated with increased body fatness in four-year-old boys and girls

Aim Premature birth is a worldwide problem and increases the risk of chronic disease later in life. Prematurely born infants may have a high percentage of body fat at term-equivalent age, but it is unclear if this characteristic is maintained in childhood. Therefore, we compared the size and body composition of four-year-old prematurely born children to such values of full-term controls. Methods Between 2013 and 2015, we assessed weight, height, fat mass and fat-free mass, using air displacement plethysmography in 188 reasonably healthy prematurely born four-year-olds (98 boys). Results At four years of age, prematurely born children (gestational weeks at birth: 23.3-36.9) tended to be lighter and shorter and to contain less fat mass and fat-free mass than did full-term controls. The gestational age at birth of the prematurely born children correlated positively and significantly (P amp;lt; .05) with height, weight, body mass index, fat mass (kg, %), fat mass index and fat-free mass (kg) in girls but not in boys. Conclusion Prematurity was not associated with increased body fatness in our four-year-olds. Our findings are relevant in relation to previously published results showing that premature birth is associated with chronic disease later in life.Funding Agencies|Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden</p

Total Body Fat Content versus BMI in 4-Year-Old Healthy Swedish Children

Childhood overweight and obesity, a worldwide problem, is generally identified using BMI (body mass index). However, this application of BMI has been little investigated in children below 5 years of age due to a lack of appropriate methods to assess body composition. Therefore, we used air displacement plethysmography (ADP) to study 4.4-year old boys and girls since this method is accurate in young children if they accept the requirements of the measurement. The purpose was to analyze the relationship between BMI and body fat in these children. Body composition was assessed in 76 (43 boys, 33 girls) of the 84 children brought to the measurement session. Boys and girls contained 25.2 ± 4.7 and 26.8 ± 4.0% body fat, respectively. BMI-based cut-offs for overweight could not effectively identify children with a high body fat content. There was a significant ( &lt; 0.001) but weak ( = 0.39) correlation between BMI and body fat (%). In conclusion, requirements associated with a successful assessment of body composition by means of ADP were accepted by most 4-year-olds. Furthermore, BMI-based cut-offs for overweight did not effectively identify children with a high body fatness and BMI explained only a small proportion of the variation in body fat (%) in this age group

Total Body Fat Content versus BMI in 4-Year-Old Healthy Swedish Children

Childhood overweight and obesity, a worldwide problem, is generally identified using BMI (body mass index). However, this application of BMI has been little investigated in children below 5 years of age due to a lack of appropriate methods to assess body composition. Therefore, we used air displacement plethysmography (ADP) to study 4.4-year old boys and girls since this method is accurate in young children if they accept the requirements of the measurement. The purpose was to analyze the relationship between BMI and body fat in these children. Body composition was assessed in 76 (43 boys, 33 girls) of the 84 children brought to the measurement session. Boys and girls contained 25.2±4.7 and 26.8±4.0% body fat, respectively. BMI-based cut-offs for overweight could not effectively identify children with a high body fat content. There was a significant (P<0.001) but weak (r=0.39) correlation between BMI and body fat (%). In conclusion, requirements associated with a successful assessment of body composition by means of ADP were accepted by most 4-year-olds. Furthermore, BMI-based cut-offs for overweight did not effectively identify children with a high body fatness and BMI explained only a small proportion of the variation in body fat (%) in this age group

Premature birth was not associated with increased body fatness in four-year-old boys and girls

Aim: Premature birth is a worldwide problem and increases the risk of chronic disease later in life. Prematurely born infants may have a high percentage of body fat at term-equivalent age, but it is unclear if this characteristic is maintained in childhood. Therefore, we compared the size and body composition of four-year-old prematurely born children to such values of full-term controls. Methods: Between 2013 and 2015, we assessed weight, height, fat mass and fat-free mass, using air displacement plethysmography in 188 reasonably healthy prematurely born four-year-olds (98 boys). Results: At four years of age, prematurely born children (gestational weeks at birth: 23.3-36.9) tended to be lighter and shorter and to contain less fat mass and fat-free mass than did full-term controls. The gestational age at birth of the prematurely born children correlated positively and significantly (P <.05) with height, weight, body mass index, fat mass (kg, %), fat mass index and fat-free mass (kg) in girls but not in boys. Conclusion: Prematurity was not associated with increased body fatness in our four-year-olds. Our findings are relevant in relation to previously published results showing that premature birth is associated with chronic disease later in life