AUTHOR=Xie Jinting , Han Yan , Peng Lei , Zhang Jingjing , Gong Xiangjun , Du Yan , Ren Xiangmei , Zhou Li , Li Yuanhong , Zeng Ping , Shao Jihong 

TITLE=BMI growth trajectory from birth to 5 years and its sex-specific association with prepregnant BMI and gestational weight gain

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1101158

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2023.1101158

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=Objective: To identify latent body mass index (BMI) z-score  trajectories of children from birth to five years old and evaluate their sex-specific association with prepregnant BMI (pp-BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG).
Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study performed in China. Three distinct BMI-z trajectories from birth to age 5 years were determined for both genders by using the latent class growth modeling (LCGM). Logistic regression model was used to assess the associations of maternal pp-BMI and GWG with childhood BMI-z growth trajectories.
Results: Excessive GWG increased the risks of children falling into high-BMI-z trajectory relative to adequate GWG (OR=2.04, 95%CI:1.29, 3.20) in boys; girls born to mothers with pre-pregnancy underweight had a higher risk of low-BMI-z trajectory than girls born to mothers with pre-pregnancy adequate weight (OR=1.85, 95%CI: 1.22, 2.79). 
Conclusions: BMI-z growth trajectories of children from 0 to 5 years of age have population heterogeneity. Pp-BMI and GWG are associated with child BMI-z trajectories. It is necessary to monitor weight status before and during pregnancy to promote maternal and child health.