Socioeconomic status and changes in body mass from 3 to 5 years.
The influence of social status on the development of body mass was analysed in a retrospective cohort study of 675 Belgian children monitored between the ages of 3 and 5 years by the preventive medical services in Brussels. At age 3, no association between excess weight and social status was observed. Adiposity rebound before age 5 was inversely related to body mass at age 3 and was independent of social status. The social influences on obesity observed in adolescence cannot be explained by a higher frequency of early adiposity rebound in children of low socioeconomic status.
De Spiegelaere
M
M
Laboratory for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Dramaix
M
M
Hennart
P
P
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D015430:Weight Gain