A longitudinal study of growth and nutritional status of Glasgow infants from birth to 2 years

Savage, Shirley-Anne Hood (1999) A longitudinal study of growth and nutritional status of Glasgow infants from birth to 2 years. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

A longitudinal study was undertaken in Glasgow to assess the growth and nutritional status of a representative sample of 127 healthy infants, born in 1992-3, from birth-2 years. Weight, length, triceps and subscapular skinfold, head, mid-upper arm (MUAC), calf and thigh circumference were measured monthly till 6 months then at 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. Body mass index, sum of skinfolds and mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) were obtained from the above measurements. Aims 1. To assess and describe growth and nutritional status of Glasgow infants and to compare with other data sets. 2. To identify factors which influence growth and nutritional status. 3. To assess feeding and weaning practice, compare with other UK data sets, and to identify factors influencing feeding and weaning practice. Comparison with reference values For weight in the first 4-5 months both boys and girls had values which were substantially greater than 'Tanner and Whitehouse' standards (Tanner et al, 1966). At 2 months distributions of Glasgow infants were substantially positively shifted when compared with 'Tanner and Whitehouse' data for both boys and girls. Weight was more similar to the 'UK 1990' reference values (Freeman et al, 1995) and the 'Revised UK 1990' references (Freeman et al, 1996). Growth in the second six months of life was more similar for Glasgow infants and the other data sets. By 2 years, however, Glasgow boys were heavier than 'Tanner and Whitehouse' and the 'UK 1990' and 'Revised UK 1990' references (Savage et al, 1996a; Savage et al, 1998b). For length, differences between Glasgow infants and 'Tanner and Whitehouse' and 'UK 1990' references were much less marked. The most noticeable difference was for Glasgow girls at 3 months who had a lower mean value when compared with 'UK 1990' both initial and revised data. Length of Glasgow girls was negatively shifted compared with 'UK 1990' references for girls. However, at two years both boys and girls from the Glasgow sample were longer than 'Tanner and Whitehouse' and 'UK 1990' references (Savage et al, 1998b; Savage et al, 1996a). Triceps and subscapular skinfolds were compared with the older 'Tanner and Whitehouse' (Tanner and Whitehouse, 1975) and more recent data from Cambridge (T.J. Cole personal communication). For both triceps and subscapular skinfolds Glasgow infants had substantially lower values when compared with 'Tanner and Whitehouse' but were much closer to the Cambridge values although slightly higher. This difference is probably due to differences in feeding and weaning practice between samples. The 'Tanner and Whitehouse' data were collected in the late 1960s when breastfeeding rates were low and introduction of solids extremely early. The formulas used were less modified and more energy dense than to-day. The Cambridge sample had high breast feeding rates and fairly late introduction of solid food when compared with Glasgow infants.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Nutrition.
• Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Reilly, Dr. John, Edwards, Dr. Christine and Durnin, Professor John
• Date of Award: 1999
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1999-71606
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 10 May 2019 14:08
• Last Modified: 19 Oct 2022 15:53
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.71606
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/71606

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