Caesarean birth and adiposity parameters in 6- to 8-year-old urban Maya children from two cities of Yucatan, Mexico

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between birth mode and fat mass index (FMI = fat mass [kg]/height [m]2), and z‐score values of waist circumference (WCZ) and sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds (SumSkfZ) in a sample of 256 6‐ to 8‐year‐old urban Maya children from the cities of Merida and Motul in Yucatan, Mexico. Methods From September 2011 to January 2014, we measured height, weight, waist circumference and skinfolds in children, and height and weight in their mothers. Body composition was estimated in both generations through bioelectrical impedance analysis. Data on children's birth mode and birth weight were obtained from birth certificates. A pre‐validated questionnaire for mothers was used regarding household living conditions. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the association between birth mode and adiposity parameters, adjusting for the effect of place of residence, household crowding index, children's birth weight, and maternal fat mass. Separate regression models were run for boys and girls. Results Caesarean‐born children comprised 43% of the entire sample. Caesarean section (CS) was found to be associated with higher values of body adiposity in girls, but not in boys. Specifically, our models predicted that girls born by CS had an increased value of 0.817 kg/m2 in FMI and showed higher SDs values for WCZ and SumskfZ (0.29 and 0.32 SD, respectively) than girls who were delivered vaginally. Discussion Our results support the hypothesis that CS is associated with increased levels of adiposity in childhood, but only in girls

Body mass index in mother and child dyads and its association with household size and parents’ education in 2 urban settings of Yucatan, Mexico

Background: Overweight/obesity (OW/OB) coexists in mother-child dyads. However, dearth of evidence on the factors associated with this phenomenon calls for research. Objective: To analyze the association of sociodemographic factors with OW/OB in a sample of 260 Maya mother-child dyads from Yucatan, Mexico. Methods: During 2011-2014 we measured height and weight in children and their mothers and calculated their body mass index (BMI). The OW/OB cut-off points were defined, for mothers, as having a BMI >25kg/m2 and, for children, as having a BMI-for-age >2SD of the World Health Organization references. Mother-child dyads were grouped according to their BMI status: 1) normal weight mother and child, 2) normal weight mother and OW/OB child, 3) OW/OB mother and normal weight child, and 4) OW/OB mother and child. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the interrelationships among BMI status in mother-child dyads, household size and parental education. Results: OW/OB coexisted in 40% of dyads. Compared to normal weight dyads (1), each unit increase in household size and in years of maternal education decreased the risks for the coexistence of OW/OB in motherchild dyads (OR=0.72, 95% IC 0.55-0.94, P=0.015; OR=0.70, 95% IC 0.52-0.94, P=0.019, respectively). Conversely, each year increase in paternal education increased the risk for OW/OB in dyads (OR=1.47, 95% CI 1.08-1.99, P=0.015). Conclusions: Results suggest that household size and parental education contribute to shape BMI-based nutritional status in this sample of mother-child dyads. A higher level of maternal education acts as a protective factor against OW/OB in mothers and children

Living conditions and change in age of menarche in adult Maya mothers and daughters from Yucatan, Mexico

OBJECTIVES: To analyze whether living conditions, experienced by mothers and adult daughters during their childhood, are associated with age at menarche (AAM) in daughters. METHODS: From September, 2011, to January, 2014, AAM and childhood living conditions were collected from a sample of 246 dyads of Maya mothers (mean age = 59.60 years, SD = 8.64) and their adult daughters (mean age = 33.03 years, SD = 5.57) from the cities of Merida and Motul in Yucatan, Mexico. Indicators of childhood living conditions were number of siblings and quality of house construction materials in both generations, and father's absence among daughters in their pre-menarcheal years. Multiple regression models were used to assess the association between childhood conditions in mother-daughter dyads and daughter's AAM. RESULTS: The recalled mean AAM of adult Maya daughters was 12.05 years (SD = 1.53). After adjusting for the influence of mothers' AAM, number of siblings in both the mothers' and daughters' families directly predicted daughters' AAM (more siblings was associated with a later AAM); and a higher (better) index of household conditions in mothers' childhood was associated with earlier AAM in daughters. The household conditions index during the childhood of daughters and father's absence were not associated with their AAM. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that better living conditions experienced by the mothers and daughters during their childhood may lower mean AAM in daughters in the context of populations that show important intergenerational changes in their social and economic conditions