| Title: |
Weight gain in the first two years of life is an important predictor of schooling outcomes in pooled analyses from five birth cohorts from low- and middle-income countries. |
| Authors: |
Martorell, R; Horta, BL; Adair, LS; Stein, AD; Richter, L; Fall, CHD; Bhargava, SK; Biswas, SKD; Perez, L; Barros, FC; Victora, CG; Consortium on Health Orientated Research in Transitional Societi |
| Source: |
J Nutr , 140 (2) pp. 348-354. (2010) |
| Publication Year: |
2010 |
| Subject Terms: |
Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Birth Weight; Cohort Studies; Developing Countries; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Income; Infant; Male; Mothers; Odds Ratio; Schools; Weight Gain; Young Adult; demo; psy |
| Description: |
Schooling predicts better reproductive outcomes, better long-term health, and increased lifetime earnings. We used data from 5 cohorts (Brazil, Guatemala, India, the Philippines, and South Africa) to explore the relative importance of birthweight and postnatal weight gain for schooling in pooled analyses (n = 7945) that used appropriate statistical methods [conditional weight (CW) gain measures that are uncorrelated with prior weights] and controlled for confounding. One SD increase in birthweight, approximately 0.5 kg, was associated with 0.21 y more schooling and 8% decreased risk of grade failure. One SD increase in CW gain between 0 and 2 y, approximately 0.7 kg, was associated with higher estimates, 0.43 y more schooling, and 12% decreased risk of failure. One SD increase of CW gain between 2 and 4 y, approximately 0.9 kg, was associated with only 0.07 y more schooling but not with failure. Also, in children born in the lowest tertile of birthweight, 1 SD increase of CW between 0 and 2 y was associated with 0.52 y more schooling compared with 0.30 y in those in the upper tertile. Relationships with age at school entry were inconsistent. In conclusion, weight gain during the first 2 y of life had the strongest associations with schooling followed by birthweight; weight gain between 2 and 4 y had little relationship to schooling. Catch-up growth in smaller babies benefited schooling. Nutrition interventions aimed at women and children under 2 y are among the key strategies for achieving the millennium development goal of universal primary education by 2015. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
unknown |
| Relation: |
http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1306199/ |
| Availability: |
http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1306199/ |
| Rights: |
undefined |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.DC1B6B65 |
| Database: |
BASE |