Abstract
The study was planned to determine identifiable starting points of a trend towards obesity and the influence of variables in preschool children aged 0 to 6 years. In this longitudinal follow-up study, 102 children were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements such as weight–height centiles (specific for gender and age group), weight–height growth velocities, and body mass indices were taken annually and compared within each group from birth to 6 years. Family history and lifestyle variables were also recorded and compared. Our study has shown that gender does not affect the trend towards obesity. In obese children, the earliest sign of a trend was the rapid increase of weight and weight gain velocity after 6 months. There were upward trends in the BMI values indicating obesity at 1 year of age in boys and at 6 months of age in girls. The height was higher in obese children than in non-obese ones after 4 years of age. Paternal obesity and having an obese sibling were significant risk factors for obesity. In conclusion, 6 months are considered to be the most critical periods for evaluating the development of obesity in childhood. The efforts for preventing obesity should be initiated at 6 months of age.
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Statistical analysis was made in a professional bureau by Emire Bor. Thanks to Arzu Aslan for helping the secretariat.
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Yücel, O., Kinik, S.T. & Aka, S. Diagnosis of a trend towards obesity in preschool children: a longitudinal study. Eur J Pediatr 170, 751–756 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1343-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1343-z