Excess weight in preschool children: The role of food intake

ABSTRACT Objective: The study aimed to compare the food intake of overweight/obese and normal weight preschoolers and to verify whether excess weight is associated with low birth weight, catch-up growth, early weaning, and physical activity/inactivity Methods: This case-control study was conducted in family healthcare units of the city of Olinda, Pernambuco, from May to August 2014 Results: A total of 253 children were studied, 84 with 'excess weight' and 164 with 'normal weight'. In the 'overweight/obese' and 'normal weight' groups, 77% and 43% of the children, respectively, had high calorie intake. The 'overweight/obese' group had lower fruit intake, higher maternal education level, higher family income, higher maternal excess weight, and presence of catch-up growth and inactivity Conclusion: The results suggest that food intake has an important role, but that other variables contribute to excess weight in children. Recognition of the problem's many causes should guide the public policies directed at this age group to prevent this nutritional disorder.摘要 研究目的：本研究旨在比较超重/肥胖学龄前儿童与体重正常学龄前儿童的膳食摄入情况，并验证儿童超重/肥胖是否与低出生体重、追赶性生长（catch-up growth）、早期断奶以及身体活动/静坐少动行为存在关联。 研究方法：本研究为病例对照研究，于2014年5月至8月在巴西伯南布哥州奥林达市的家庭医疗保健单元开展。 研究结果：本研究共纳入253名儿童，其中84名被归类为"超重/肥胖"组，164名被归类为"体重正常"组。在"超重/肥胖"组与"体重正常"组中，分别有77%与43%的儿童存在高卡路里摄入情况。"超重/肥胖"组儿童的水果摄入量更低，母亲受教育程度更高、家庭收入更高、母亲超重/肥胖比例更高，且存在追赶性生长与静坐少动行为的比例更高。 研究结论：本研究结果表明，膳食摄入在儿童超重/肥胖发生过程中发挥重要作用，但其他变量同样会对儿童超重/肥胖的发生产生影响。认清该问题的多重诱因，可为针对该年龄段人群制定预防此类营养障碍的公共卫生政策提供科学指导。