Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between energy intake and BMI z-score in European children. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hebestreit, Antje; Barba, Gianvincenzo; De Henauw, Stefaan; Eiben, Gabriele; Hadjigeorgiou, Charalampos; Kovács, Éva; Krogh, Vittorio; Moreno, Luis; Pala, Valeria; Veidebaum, Toomas; Wolters, Maike; Börnhorst, Claudia
• Is Part Of: International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. Volume 13:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Residual energy intake -- Europe -- Cohort -- BMI z-score -- Children; Diet -- Periodicals; Physical fitness -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1186/s12966-016-0344-3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-5868

Abstract

Abstract Background Evidence for the effect of dietary energy on BMI z-scores in young children is limited. We aim to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of daily energy intake (EI) on BMI z-scores of European boys and girls considering growth-related height dependencies of EI using residual EI. Methods To investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of daily energy intake (EI) on BMI z-scores of European boys and girls considering growth-related height dependencies of EI using residual EI. Methods Subjects were children aged 2- < 10 y old (N = 2753, 48.2 % girls) participating in the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS) baseline and follow-up examination. Usual EI (kcal/day) was calculated based on the National Cancer Institute-method excluding subjects with implausible reported EI. Effect of age, height and sex-adjusted residuals of EI on BMI z-score was investigated stratified by baseline age –group (2- < 4 y, 4- < 6 y, 6- < 8 y and 8- < 10 y) cross-sectionally using linear regression models adjusted for relevant confounders (crude model: age, sex, country; fully adjusted model: plus parental ISCED level, parental BMI, screen time; subgroup analysis: plus objectively measured physical activity). Longitudinal associations were estimated between changes in (Δ) residual EI per year and ΔBMI z-score per year with adjustments analogously to the cross-sectional models but with additional adjustment for residual EI at baseline. Results Cross-sectionally, positive associations were observed between residual EI and BMI z-score for the full study sample, for boys and in older (≥6 years) but not in younger children in the crude and fully adjusted model. Longitudinally, small positive associations were observed between Δresidual EI per y on ΔBMI z-score per y for the full study sample and in 4- < 6 y olds in the crude and fully adjusted model. Conclusion In conclusion, EI above the average intakes for a certain sex, age and height are weakly associated with BMI z-scores in European children. Residual EI may be considered as a useful exposure measure in children as it accounts for growth-related changes in usual EI during childhood.