Body composition of children with different gestation time.

OBJECTIVES To examine the differences in body composition between prepubescent children, depending on the time of gestation. METHODS The study was conducted among children aged 3-10 years. The thickness of 5 (triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal, calf) skinfolds, mid-upper arm circumference, body height, weight and femur breadth was measured. Sum of 3 skinfolds, Body Mass Index (BMI) and muscle mass were calculated. Gestation time was obtained using a questionnaire. RESULTS Children in the short gestation time category were generally characterized by the greatest values of the analyzed characteristics, particularly above the ages of 6-8 years. Femur breadth and muscle mass were similar up to the mentioned age in all of the gestation time categories. BMI and all of the adiposity characteristics, below the age of 6 years, were the greatest in the long gestation time category. CONCLUSIONS Results of the present study are important, as excess body mass and adiposity are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic abnormalities later in life. Special emphasis should be placed on the prevention of overweight and obesity among premature babies and the education of their parents.