Pre-natal and perinatal factors affecting body mass index in pre-pubertal Polish children

Abstract

Background: An increased prevalence of body mass deficit among children has been reported in developing countries, including Eastern European states which have undergone political transformation. However, there are few studies evaluating risk factors for body mass deficit in schoolchildren and adolescents.Aim: To assess selected familial, pre-natal and early life factors in terms of risk associated with the prevalence of body mass deficit in children aged 7–10 years.Subjects and methods: Logistic regression models based on 812 records for children aged 7–10 years were applied for the evaluation of familial, pre-natal and perinatal risk factors affecting the height-to-weight ratio.Results: The risk of underweight in 7–10-year-old children is significantly higher for girls (OR = 1.70) and for children whose mothers reported a traumatic experience during pregnancy (OR = 2.77). The effect of reported stress during pregnancy differed as regards the child’s sex. Mother’s trauma increased the risk of body weight deficit only in boys (OR = 2.74), while in girls it significantly decreased this risk (OR = 0.35). Low birth weight significantly increased the risk of underweight only in boys (OR = 2.99) and mother’s occupational activity decreased the risk of underweight only in girls (OR = 0.57).Conclusion: Low birth weight and mother’s trauma during pregnancy are risk factors for underweight in Polish schoolchildren, particularly in boys.