Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective
Identify patterns of obesity‐related prenatal characteristics across ecological system levels and examine associations with child weight at 2 years old.
Methods
Secondary analyses were conducted using data from 533 low‐income Hispanic families enrolled in a childhood obesity prevention intervention. Prenatal characteristics were assessed during the 3rd trimester and child weights at 2 years. Latent class analysis was conducted to identify groups of pregnant individuals with different patterns of prenatal characteristics. Associations between class membership and child weight outcomes at age 2 years were examined using the manual Bolck–Croon–Hagenaars method, controlling for intervention status.
Results
Three groups were identified:
Non‐US born/Lower adverse SDOH
(51%),
Non‐US born/Higher adverse SDOH
(25%) and
US born/Lower adverse SDOH
(24%). Children of participants in the
Non‐US born/Higher adverse SDOH
had significantly higher weight‐for‐age
z
‐scores and higher odds of overweight or obesity compared to children of participants in the
Non‐US born/Lower adverse SDOH
(
M
diff
= 0.61, SE = 0.21,
p
= 0.003, 95% CI [0.27, 0.95]; aOR = 2.83, 95% CI [1.09, 2.59]) and
Non‐US born/Higher adverse SDOH burden
(
M
diff
= 0.55, SE = 0.20,
p
= 0.006, 95% CI [0.22, 0.89]; aOR = 2.83, 95% CI [1.09, 2.59]).
Conclusions
Higher concurrent levels of psychosocial stressors and material hardships during pregnancy may pose a particular risk for excess weight in early childhood, especially for children of non‐US‐born pregnant individuals.