Progression of waist–hip circumference ratio in full-term symmetric and asymmetric small for gestational age infants

Abstract

Background: Children born as small for gestational age (SGA) tend to develop central adiposity and may have chances of developing metabolic syndrome. Waist–hip circumference ratio (WHR) is considered as a good indicator of central/truncal obesity. The complete absence of information on growth dynamics of WHR among Indian symmetric and asymmetric SGA infants has prompted us to undertake this study. Aim: The aim was to study the pattern of growth of waist circumference, hip circumference, and WHR of symmetric and asymmetric SGA infants. Materials and Methods: Waist and hip circumference of full-term 100 symmetric SGA, 100 asymmetric SGA, and 100 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants was measured at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in Growth Laboratory/Clinic of the Department. Student's unpaired t-test was used to assess intragroup (symmetric vs. asymmetric), intergroup (SGA vs. AGA), and gender differences. Results: A consistent increase in the mean waist and hip circumference was noticed among symmetric and asymmetric SGA and AGA infants of two sexes. Male infants of both SGA groups possessed similar waist and hip circumference at 1 month. Whereafter, asymmetric SGA males had a larger waist and lesser hip circumference than symmetric infants. Asymmetric SGA females possessed larger waist circumference throughout infancy, while hip circumference measured larger only till 3 months as compared to symmetric females. Conclusion: SGA infants of two types and gender exhibited compromised auxological attainments for waist and hip circumference compared to normal babies. Higher WHR recorded in asymmetric SGA than symmetric SGA and AGA babies appear to suggest that asymmetric infants may have greater tendency to develop central obesity, subsequently.