PREDICTION OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN AT 5 YEARS - A COHORT STUDY

Objective: To examine determinants of moderate and severe obesity in c hildren at 5 years of age, Methodology: A prospective cohort of mother s were enrolled at first antenatal visit, and interviewed shortly afte r delivery, at 6 months and 5 years. Detailed health, psychological an d social questionnaires were completed at each phase by mothers, and c hild health questionnaires at 6 months and 5 years. At 5 years 4062 ch ildren were assessed physically, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test a dministered and mothers completed a modified Child Behaviour Checklist . Moderate obesity was defined as BMI between 85th and 94th percentile s inclusively, and severe obesity as a BMI greater than the 94th perce ntile. Results: Independent predictors of severe obesity at 5 years we re birthweight, female gender, maternal BMI and paternal BMI. Moderate obesity at 5 years was predicted by birthweight, paternal BMI and sle eplessness at 6 months, while small for gestational age (SGA) status a nd feeding problems at 6 months were protective factors for moderate o besity. Obesity was not associated with problems of language comprehen sion or behaviour. Conclusions: Findings of this study suggest that bi ological rather than psychosocial factors are the major determinants o f obesity at 5 years.