title: Ethnic differences in risk factors for obesity in New Zealand infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In New Zealand, the burden of childhood obesity is greatest in Māori and Pacific children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 687 infants from an internet-based birth cohort in New Zealand, we investigated ethnic differences in early life risk factors for later obesity, the degree to which these were explained by sociodemographic factors, and the extent to which ethnic differences in weight at age 3 months were explained by measured risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of having an obese mother was double in Māori and Pacific infants compared with NZ European infants (prevalence 24% and 14%, respectively; OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.23 to 4.04). Māori and Pacific infants had higher weights in the first week of life and at 3 months (mean difference 0.19 kg, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.38), and their mothers had higher scores on a 'snacks' dietary pattern and lower scores on 'healthy' and 'sweet' dietary patterns. These inequalities were not explained by maternal education, maternal age or area-based deprivation. No ethnic differences were observed for maternal pre-pregnancy physical activity, hypertension or diabetes in pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding or early introduction of solid foods. Ethnic inequalities in infant weight at 3 months were not explained by sociodemographic variables, maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index or dietary pattern scores or by other measured risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows excess prevalence of early life risk factors for obesity in Māori and Pacific infants in New Zealand and suggests an urgent need for early interventions for these groups.
authors: MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Laura D
authors: LD
authors: Howe
authors: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Lis
authors: L
authors: Ellison-Loschmann
authors: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors: Neil
authors: N
authors: Pearce
authors: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Jeroen
authors: J
authors: Douwes
authors: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors: Mona
authors: M
authors: Jeffreys
authors: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Ridvan
authors: R
authors: Firestone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000208:ethnology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult