Assessment of growth: variations according to references and growth parameters used

International Conference on The Power of Programming - Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Location: Univ Munich Med Ctr, Munich, Germany : May 06-08, 2010International audienceNumerous studies have investigated associations between early growth and future risk of obesity, but the methods used varied considerably. Different growth references or parameters can be considered. Growth references from France, the United States (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. For the first 3 mo of life, all references showed markedly lower values for weight, length, and body mass index (BMI) compared with WHO standards, but after the age of 6 mo references were generally higher than WHO standards. Compared with nonbreastfed infants, the growth of breastfed infants was generally closer to that of WHO standards. Because data in the WHO standards were collected on infants who were breastfed, the difference between references and WHO standards might be mainly attributable to feeding practices. Epidemiologic and clinical studies evaluated the consequences of using either WHO standards or national references and showed differences according to the reference used. Analyses of children's weight curves by physicians showed significant differences in the interpretation of child growth and therefore in the advice given to parents. Finally, the effect of using different growth parameters to predict future risk of obesity was examined and showed that weight and length gains may be good candidates to study future risks. In conclusion, because the reference or parameters used to assess growth have an important effect on the interpretation of growth, it is crucial to be aware of the consequences of the methods used in clinical or epidemiologic contexts

Growth Trajectories Associated with Adult Obesity

1st International Conference on Nutrition and Growth ; Paris (France ; 2012/03/01-03International audienceThe influence of early life factors on later body weight and metabolic diseases has generated increasing interest in the recent years. Exposure to environmental factors during pregnancy and early life can exert long-lasting influence on health. Anthropometric indicators are of great value to investigate the early determinants of the development of obesity. Different indicators may be associated with different growth patterns and then may predict different risks. The adiposity rebound (AR) which corresponds to the second rise in BMI that occurs at around 6 years of age, predicts later body weight. An early rebound is a risk factor for later overweight. Many fat children stay fat but, by contrast, an early AR is not associated with overweight in early life. These observations point out the existence of various BMI patterns associated with adult obesity. Two main trajectories emerge: the trajectory of high BMI at all ages which reflects both high lean and fat body masses, and the trajectory of low or normal BMI followed by an early AR and a subsequent rise in BMI reflecting increased fat rather than lean body mass. The trajectory of always high BMI could correspond to the so-called 'metabolically healthy obese subjects' while the trajectory of low BMI followed by increasing fatness is associated with insulin resistance and coronary heart diseases. The very early rebound recorded in most obese subjects suggests that determinants of obesity have operated very early in life. The identification of growth trajectories is of great interest to investigate the factors promoting obesity and metabolic diseases and to improve prevention strategies which should start from early life. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Base

The influence of olfactory sensitivity on food preferences in very young children : the case of goat cheese and cauliflower

National audienc

BMI at age 3 years predicts later BMI but age at adiposity rebound conveys information on BMI pattern‐health association

International audienc

Les apports nutritionnels au début de la vie, conséquences à long terme

L’obésité chez l’enfant représente un important problème de santé publique. L’identification des périodes critiques du développement de l’obésité permettrait de mieux cibler les mesures de prévention. Un rebond d’adiposité précoce relevé chez la plupart des obèses suggère que des facteurs sont intervenus tôt dans la vie. Les études montrent que la nutrition précoce joue un rôle important sur la santé future. Différentes études ont montré une association entre des apports élevés en protéines au début de la vie et un risque d’obésité ultérieure. Ces études ont souligné que l’équilibre des nutriments au début de la vie était souvent inadapté aux besoins de l’enfant. En particulier, dans les pays industrialisés, les apports en protéines sont 3 à 4 fois supérieurs aux besoins. Inversement, le contenu faible en protéines et élevé en graisses du lait maternel peut expliquer son effet protecteur contre l’obésité. Le début de la vie (pré- et post-natal) est une période critique durant laquelle les facteurs d’environnement peuvent programmer des mécanismes d’adaptation qui persisteront à l’âge adulte. Les études nutritionnelles ont souligné l’importance d’une alimentation adaptée aux besoins correspondant aux différents stades de la croissance

Nutrient intakes in early life and risk of obesity

International audienceThere is increasing evidence that environmental factors in early life predict later health. The early adiposity rebound recorded in most obese subjects suggests that factors promoting body fat development have operated in the first years of life. Birth weight, growth velocity and body mass index (BMI) trajectories seem to be highly sensitive to the environmental conditions present during pregnancy and in early life ("The first 1000 days"). Particularly, nutritional exposure can have a long-term effect on health in adulthood. The high protein-low fat diet often recorded in young children may have contributed to the rapid rise of childhood obesity prevalence during the last decades. Metabolic programming by early nutrition could explain the development of later obesity and adult diseases