Factors associated with excess weight and stunting in schoolchildren born with low birth weight

Abstract

The scope of this study is to assess the nutritional status of low birth weight (LBW) children and the possible associations with independent maternal variables, gender and neonatal history. It involved a cross-sectional study with 544 LBW schoolchildren (five to ten years of age) in the metropolitan area of São Paulo. Variables: the neonatal data of liveborn infant declarations and the current weight and height of the mothers were collected. The weight and stature used to calculate the height/age z (HAZ) score and the body mass index (BMI) of children were evaluated. Among the LBW children 6.2% were of short stature, 12.3% overweight and 8.6% obese. There was an association between short stature in LBW schoolchildren and short maternal stature < 150 cm (OR = 6.94; 95 % CI 2.34–20.6). Excess weight/ obesity in LBW children was independently associated with overweight/obesity of the mother (OR = 2.40; 95% CI 1.44–4.01), and the male gender (OR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.06–2.95). A fifth of schoolchildren with low birth weight were overweight, which was associated with current maternal nutritional status and the male gender and stunting was associated with maternal stature.