Liu Yang

Background: The study aims to use the cross-lagged model and utilize data from the Born in Shenyang Cohort Study to characterize the bidirectional associations of the term-born infants’ neurodevelopment in five domains and physical growth in early life. Method: This study consists of 688 mother-child dyads from the Born in Shenyang Cohort Study. Infants’ anthropometric (weight and length) and development in neurological outcomes (Gesell Development Scale) were measured at the age of 6 and 12 months. Cross-lagged analyses and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the longitudinal relationships in both directions. Results: In terms of longitudinal studies, the inverse associations between infants’ two skills (gross motor and social behavior) at the age of 6 months with BMI Z -scores at the age of 12 months (gross motor: aβ = − 0.20, 95% CI: − 0.31 to- 0.09; social behavior: aβ = − 0.23, 95% CI: − 0.33 to- 0.13) were found. Conversely, a higher infant Z -scored BMI at the age of 6 months predicted a lower gross motor at the age of 12 months (aβ = − 0.08, 95% CI: − 0.12 to- 0.04). In cross-lagged analyses, an adverse association in both directions between gross motor and Z -scored BMI was observed. Conclusion: We found bidirectional relationships between infants’ neurodevelopment of gross motor with physical growth and suggested the term-born infants, who are on the edge of the developmental danger, should not be overlooked.

Television (TV) viewing may affect children’s obesity status. In the present study the association between TV viewing and early childhood overweight/obese status was investigated as well as the association based on age difference. The present study included 933 children 1–5 years of age that were individually matched on a 1:2 (cases: controls) ratio based on age and community. Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was used to evaluate the association between TV viewing time and the related unhealthy behaviors. Conditional logistic regression models were used to quantify the association between TV viewing and children overweight/obese status in two age groups. The effects of TV viewing-related behaviors on the associations were further investigated. TV viewing time > 1 h was positively associated with the prevalence of TV viewing-related unhealthy behaviors (P < 0.05). After controlling for these behaviors, the association between TV viewing and childhood overweight/obese status was significant among 4- to 5-year-old children (odds ratio, OR = 1.72, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.16––2.54), but not significant among 1- to 3-year-old children. Childhood overweight/obese status was positively associated with longer TV viewing time only among 4- to 5-year-old children. The results from the present study may help in identifying the population susceptible for overweight and obesity caused by TV viewing.