Bolton Kristy A, Kremer Peter, Hesketh Kylie D, Laws Rachel, Campbell Karen J
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
BMC Public Health. 2016 Oct 11;16(1):1071. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3677-6.
Rapid growth in the first six months of life is a well-established risk factor for childhood obesity, and child feeding practices (supplementation or substitution of breast milk with formula and early introduction of solids) have been reported to predict this. The third largest immigrant group in Australia originate from China. Case-studies reported from Victorian Maternal and Child Health nurses suggest that rapid growth trajectories in the infants of Chinese parents is common place. Furthermore, these nurses report that high value is placed by this client group on rapid growth and a fatter child; that rates of breastfeeding are low and overfeeding of infant formula is high. There are currently no studies which describe infant growth or its correlates among this immigrant group.
We postulate that in Australia, Chinese-born immigrant mothers will have different infant feeding practices compared to non-immigrant mothers and this will result in different growth trajectories and risk of overweight. We present the Chinese-born immigrant infant feeding and growth hypothesis - that less breastfeeding, high formula feeding and early introduction of solids in infants of Chinese-born immigrant mothers living in Australia will result in a high protein intake and subsequent rapid growth trajectory and increased risk of overweight and obesity.
Three related studies will be conducted to investigate the hypothesis. These will include two quantitative studies (one cross-sectional, one longitudinal) and a qualitative study. The quantitative studies will investigate differences in feeding practices in Chinese-born immigrant compared to non-immigrant mothers and infants; and the growth trajectories over the first 3.5 years of life. The qualitative study will provide more in-depth understanding of the influencing factors on feeding practices in Chinese-born immigrant mothers.
This study will provide evidence of the potential modifiable feeding practices and risk of overweight faced by Chinese-born immigrants living in Australia. This is important to help identify groups at risk of rapid growth and subsequent risk of obesity, to identify opportunities for intervention, and to be able to tailor prevention initiatives appropriately.
生命前六个月的快速生长是儿童肥胖的一个公认风险因素，据报道，儿童喂养方式（用配方奶补充或替代母乳以及过早引入固体食物）可预测这一情况。澳大利亚第三大移民群体来自中国。维多利亚州母婴健康护士报告的案例研究表明，华裔父母的婴儿快速生长轨迹很常见。此外，这些护士报告称，该客户群体非常重视快速生长和更胖的孩子；母乳喂养率低，婴儿配方奶过度喂养率高。目前尚无研究描述这一移民群体中的婴儿生长情况或其相关因素。
我们推测，在澳大利亚，出生在中国的移民母亲与非移民母亲相比，会有不同的婴儿喂养方式，这将导致不同的生长轨迹和超重风险。我们提出出生在中国的移民婴儿喂养与生长假设——居住在澳大利亚的出生在中国的移民母亲所生婴儿较少母乳喂养、高配方奶喂养和过早引入固体食物，将导致高蛋白摄入，进而导致快速生长轨迹以及超重和肥胖风险增加。
将进行三项相关研究来验证这一假设。这些研究将包括两项定量研究（一项横断面研究、一项纵向研究）和一项定性研究。定量研究将调查出生在中国的移民母亲与非移民母亲及其婴儿在喂养方式上的差异；以及生命最初3.5年的生长轨迹。定性研究将更深入地了解影响出生在中国的移民母亲喂养方式的因素。
本研究将为居住在澳大利亚的出生在中国的移民面临的潜在可改变的喂养方式和超重风险提供证据。这对于帮助识别有快速生长风险及后续肥胖风险的群体、识别干预机会以及能够适当地调整预防措施非常重要。
