Sikha Sinha1, Abha Rani Aggarwal, Clive Osmond, Caroline H D Fall, Santosh K Bhargava, Harshpal Singh Sachdev. 1. *Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, $University School of Medicine and Para-medical Health Sciences, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, #National Institute of Medical Statistics, Indian Council of Medical Research, and ‡Sunder Lal Jain Hospital, New Delhi, India; and **MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. Correspondence to: Prof Harshpal Singh Sachdev, Senior Consultant Pediatrics and Clinical Epidemiology, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, B-16 Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110 016, India. hpssachdev@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intergenerational change in anthropometric indices of children and their predictors. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. PARTICIPANTS: New Delhi Birth Cohort participants (F1), born between 1969 and 1972, were followed-up for anthropometry at birth and 6-monthly intervals until 21 years. Their children (F2) below 10 years were evaluated anthropometrically. OUTCOME MEASURE: Intergenerational change (F2-F1) in height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of children in comparison to their parents at corresponding ages. RESULTS: 432 F2-F1 pairs were analyzed in age-groups of 0-5 (26.9%) and 5-10 (73.1%) years. Children were considerably taller (0-5 years 0.99 SD; 5-10 years 1.17 SD) and heavier (0-5 years 0.77 SD; 5-10 years 1.52 SD) while only those aged 5-10 years were broader (had a higher BMI; 1.03 SD), than their parents. These increases for 0-5 and 5-10 years, respectively corresponded to 3.9 and 6.4 cm for height, 1.3 and 5.4 kg for weight and 0.2 and 1.9 kg/m2 for BMI. Lower parents' anthropometric indices and poor water supply and sanitation facilities; higher age of parents at child birth and of children when measured (for height and weight); and more parental education (for weight and BMI), were associated with greater intergenerational gains in children. CONCLUSION: Over one generation in an urban middle-class population, whose general living conditions had improved, under-five children have become considerably taller and heavier, and 5-10 year old children have additionally become broader, than their parents at corresponding ages. Child populations probably 'grow up' before 'growing out'.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intergenerational change in anthropometric indices of children and their predictors. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. PARTICIPANTS: New Delhi Birth Cohort participants (F1), born between 1969 and 1972, were followed-up for anthropometry at birth and 6-monthly intervals until 21 years. Their children (F2) below 10 years were evaluated anthropometrically. OUTCOME MEASURE: Intergenerational change (F2-F1) in height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of children in comparison to their parents at corresponding ages. RESULTS: 432 F2-F1 pairs were analyzed in age-groups of 0-5 (26.9%) and 5-10 (73.1%) years. Children were considerably taller (0-5 years 0.99 SD; 5-10 years 1.17 SD) and heavier (0-5 years 0.77 SD; 5-10 years 1.52 SD) while only those aged 5-10 years were broader (had a higher BMI; 1.03 SD), than their parents. These increases for 0-5 and 5-10 years, respectively corresponded to 3.9 and 6.4 cm for height, 1.3 and 5.4 kg for weight and 0.2 and 1.9 kg/m2 for BMI. Lower parents' anthropometric indices and poor water supply and sanitation facilities; higher age of parents at child birth and of children when measured (for height and weight); and more parental education (for weight and BMI), were associated with greater intergenerational gains in children. CONCLUSION: Over one generation in an urban middle-class population, whose general living conditions had improved, under-five children have become considerably taller and heavier, and 5-10 year old children have additionally become broader, than their parents at corresponding ages. Child populations probably 'grow up' before 'growing out'.
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Authors: Caroline H D Fall; Harshpal Singh Sachdev; Clive Osmond; Maria Clara Restrepo-Mendez; Cesar Victora; Reynaldo Martorell; Aryeh D Stein; Shikha Sinha; Nikhil Tandon; Linda Adair; Isabelita Bas; Shane Norris; Linda M Richter Journal: Lancet Glob Health Date: 2015-05-18 Impact factor: 26.763
Authors: Santosh K Bhargava; Harshpal Singh Sachdev; Caroline H D Fall; Clive Osmond; Ramakrishnan Lakshmy; David J P Barker; Sushant K Dey Biswas; Siddharth Ramji; Dorairaj Prabhakaran; Kolli Srinath Reddy Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2004-02-26 Impact factor: 91.245