Abstract:
Low and high birth weight and rapid weight gain during infancy are associated with childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a major public health problem worldwide. Its prevalence is dramatically rising and childhood obesity is an important risk factor for chronic disease occurrence and mortality in adulthood. Weight at birth is a strong indicator of maternal and newborn health and nutrition. The incidence of low birthweight, defined as the proportion of newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams. Appropriate feeding practices during infancy and childhood are essential for ensuring normal growth and development as well as health of infants and children. Studies on infant and child feeding indicate that inappropriate feeding practices can have profound consequences for the growth, development, and survival of infants and children, particularly in developing countries.
In this paper we are going to understand whether gender, age group, birthweight, feeding practices like exclusive breastfeeding, complimentary feeding etc. has impact on nutritional status and body fat? What are the mean numbers of low birth weights children and impact of low birthweight on nutritional status? Whether feeding practices has impact on nutritional status and body fat?
The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted on children aged 12-36 months in Mumbai city. The study sample consisted of 1248 children with 628 girls and 623 boys. Nutritional status was assessed using weight for age, height for age and weight for height. Percent body fat was measured by electric bio impedance and based on skinfold thicknesses measured at four sites. Approximately half of the children had normal weight for height (WHZ), weight for age (WAZ) and BMI-for-age (BAZ). Among the 1248 children, only 2.8 % were wasted, 2.4% were underweight, 2.0 % were stunted and 2.6% had low BMI for age. Mean birthweight of all children was 2868± 151gm. Our data showed that percent body fat tended to vary with nutritional status.
This is one of the first studies in India that measured body fat among children in the age group of 12-36 months. However, norms need to be established for percent body fat in this age group. Also, this study points out the need for further studies on the relationship of birthweight with body composition of children, including preschool children. Since micronutrient intakes were found to be extremely low in the children who participated in the present study, efforts need to be made for provision of foods rich in these micronutrients as well as ensuring that mothers and caregivers have the correct knowledge about feeding practices and foods that are appropriate for children of this age group. It would be worthwhile to impart nutrition education that is region and socio-economic status specific, taking into account availability and cost of local foods as well as to study the impact of nutrition education to parents on the nutritional status, growth and body composition of young children.
