Prematurity Is Not Associated with Intra-Abdominal Adiposity in 5-to 7-Year-Old Children

Objective To compare body composition and abdominal fat partitioning between 5- to 7-year old children born preterm and born at term. We hypothesized children born preterm to have a higher body fat percentage and higher percentage of intra-abdominal adipose tissue (% IAAT) compared with their peers born at term. Study design A total of 236 children aged 5-7 years, ie, 116 children born preterm (gestational age 29.8 +/- 2.6 [30; 24-33] weeks [mean +/- SD {median; range}]) and 120 children born at term were included. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and % IAAT by magnetic resonance imaging. Body mass index, skin fold thickness, and waist-to-hip ratio were investigated as further measures of body composition. Dietary records were compared between both groups. Results Children born preterm were shorter (120 cm vs 123 cm, P <.001), lighter (21.8 kg vs 24.3 kg, P <.001), and had a lower body mass index (15.1 kg/m(2) vs 15.9 kg/m(2), P =.003) compared with controls. There were no differences in % IAAT (n = 154), and body fat mass although energy uptake was higher in preterms (335 kJ/kg/d vs 302 kJ/kg/d, P =.03). Conclusions At the age of 5-7 years, children born preterm showed neither increased fat mass nor intra-abdominal adiposity.