Does low birth weight predict hypertension and obesity in schoolchildren?
BACKGROUND
Birth weight appears to play a role in determining high blood pressure (BP) and obesity during childhood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between birth weight and later obesity and hypertension among 10- to 13-year-old schoolchildren.


METHODS
A total of 1,184 primary school students were selected from 20 randomized schools between 2011 and 2012 in Iran. Height, weight, waist circumference and BP were measured using standard instruments. Data were analyzed using stepwise regression and logistic regression models.


RESULTS
13.5% of children had a history of low birth weight. First-degree family history of obesity, excessive gestational weight gain and birth weight were significantly correlated with overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity (p = 0.001), whereas only birth weight was associated with high BP (p = 0.001). An inverse correlation was found between waist circumference and systolic/diastolic BP. The duration of breastfeeding in children with low birth weight was inversely correlated with obesity/overweight, abdominal obesity and hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggests that birth weight is inversely associated with BP and more so with obesity and abdominal obesity. The duration of having been breastfed could have an influence on later hypertension, obesity and abdominal obesity. Further results are needed to test these correlations as well as diagnosing early life factors to prevent young adult overweight/obesity or hypertension.
Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mitra
M
Zarrati
Farzad
F
Shidfar
Elham
E
Razmpoosh
Farinaz Nasir
FN
Nezhad
Hosein
H
Keivani
Mohsen Rezaei
MR
Hemami
Zatollah
Z
Asemi
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference