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Migrant Background and Weight Gain in Early Infancy: Results from the German Study Sample of the IDEFICS Study

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  • Anna Reeske
  • Jacob Spallek
  • Karin Bammann
  • Gabriele Eiben
  • Stefaan De Henauw
  • Yiannis Kourides
  • Peter Nagy
  • Wolfgang Ahrens

Abstract

Objective: To examine variations in infant weight gain between children of parents with and without migrant background and to investigate how these differences are explained by pre- and perinatal factors. Methods: We used data on birth weight and weight at six months from well-child check-up books that were collected from a population-based German sample of children in the IDEFICS study (n = 1,287). We calculated unadjusted and adjusted means for weight z-scores at birth and six months later. We applied linear regression for change in weight z-score and we calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for rapid weight gain by logistic regression, adjusted for biological, social and behavioural factors. Results: Weight z-scores for migrants and Germans differed slightly at birth, but were markedly increased for Turkish and Eastern European infants at age six months. Turkish infants showed the highest change in weight z-score during the first 6 months (ß = 0.35; 95% CI 0.14–0.56) and an increased probability of rapid weight gain compared with German infants. Examination of the joint effect of migrant and socioeconomic status (SES) showed the greatest change in weight z-scores in Turkish infants from middle SES families (ß = 0.77; 95% CI 0.40–1.14) and infants of parents from Eastern European countries with high SES (ß = 0.72; 95% CI 0.13–1.32). Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that migrant background is an independent risk factor for infant weight gain and suggest that the onset of health inequalities in overweight starts in early infancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Reeske & Jacob Spallek & Karin Bammann & Gabriele Eiben & Stefaan De Henauw & Yiannis Kourides & Peter Nagy & Wolfgang Ahrens, 2013. "Migrant Background and Weight Gain in Early Infancy: Results from the German Study Sample of the IDEFICS Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0060648
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060648
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Smith, G.D., 2000. "Learning to live with complexity: Ethnicity, socioeconomic position, and health in Britain and the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(11), pages 1694-1698.
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    1. Katharina Reiss & Jürgen Breckenkamp & Theda Borde & Silke Brenne & Wolfgang Henrich & Matthias David & Oliver Razum, 2016. "The association of pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity with delivery outcomes: a comparison of immigrant and non-immigrant women in Berlin, Germany," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 61(4), pages 455-463, May.

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