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Associations of Childcare Arrangements with Adiposity Measures in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Cohort: The GUSTO Study

Author

Listed:
  • Beverly Wen-Xin Wong

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jia Ying Toh

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ray Sugianto

    (Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore)

  • Airu Chia

    (Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore)

  • Mya Thway Tint

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore)

  • Wen Lun Yuan

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    Inserm, INRAE, CRESS, Université de Paris, F-75004 Paris, France)

  • Natarajan Padmapriya

    (Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore
    Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore)

  • Carla Lança

    (Singapore Eye Research Institute, 20 College Rd, Singapore 169856, Singapore
    Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa (ESTeSL), Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1549-020 Lisbon, Portugal
    Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Seang-Mei Saw

    (Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, 20 College Rd, Singapore 169856, Singapore
    Graduate Medical School, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore)

  • Yung Seng Lee

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
    Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Rd, Singapore 119074, Singapore)

  • Lynette Pei-Chi Shek

    (Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
    Department of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Rd, Singapore 119074, Singapore)

  • Kok Hian Tan

    (Graduate Medical School, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
    Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 229899, Singapore)

  • Fabian Yap

    (Graduate Medical School, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
    Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 229899, Singapore
    Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 636921, Singapore)

  • Keith M. Godfrey

    (Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Tremona Rd, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
    Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, University Hospital Southampton, NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Rd, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK)

  • Yap-Seng Chong

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore)

  • Falk Müller-Riemenschneider

    (Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore)

  • Johan G. Eriksson

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
    Folkhälsan Research Center, Topeliuksenkatu 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
    Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Tukholmankatu 8 B, 00290 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Shiao-Yng Chan

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore)

  • Mary Foong-Fong Chong

    (Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
    Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore)

Abstract

Childcare arrangements shape behavioural patterns that influence the risk of childhood obesity. However, little is known of its influence on childhood obesity in Singapore. We aim to examine the associations between childcare arrangements at the age of 5 years and childhood adiposity at age 6 years. Children from the GUSTO study were grouped into three childcare arrangements at age 5: full-time centre-based childcare (FC), partial centre-based with parental care (PCP), and partial centre-based with non-parents (grandparents and domestic helpers) as caregivers (PCN). Diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour information were collected at age 5, while anthropometric measurements were collected at age 6. Associations were analysed using multivariable regression models. Among 540 children, those in PCN had higher BMI z -scores ( β : 0.34; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.66), greater sum of skinfold thicknesses (mm) ( β : 3.75; 95% CI: 0.53, 6.97) and were 3.55 times (95% CI: 1.78, 7.05) more likely to be overweight/obese than those in FC. Adiposity measures in PCP children did not differ from those in FC. PCN children were reported to have more screen time and greater fast-food intake. Children in PCN tended to have higher adiposity measures. Greater engagement of non-parental caregivers should be considered in interventions targeting child obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Beverly Wen-Xin Wong & Jia Ying Toh & Ray Sugianto & Airu Chia & Mya Thway Tint & Wen Lun Yuan & Natarajan Padmapriya & Carla Lança & Seang-Mei Saw & Yung Seng Lee & Lynette Pei-Chi Shek & Kok Hian Ta, 2021. "Associations of Childcare Arrangements with Adiposity Measures in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Cohort: The GUSTO Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:12178-:d:683510
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McDonnell, Thérèse & Doyle, Orla, 2019. "Maternal employment and childcare during infancy and childhood overweight," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    2. Belfield, Clive R. & Kelly, Inas Rashad, 2013. "Early education and health outcomes of a 2001 U.S. Birth Cohort," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 310-325.
    3. Mandal, Bidisha & Powell, Lisa M., 2014. "Child care choices, food intake, and children's obesity status in the United States," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 14(C), pages 50-61.
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