Inter-individual variability in children's physical growth and body composition: Findings of longitudinal ELOS-Pré study.

Background: Children's physical growth (PG) and body composition (BC) can be influenced by birth weight and type of delivery.

Aim: To longitudinally analyze the dynamics of PG and BC of children from 5 to 9 years; to investigate the inter-individual differences according to age, sex, BW, and type of delivery across the following years of the study.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 1236 children (597 boys) were evaluated at 5-years of age and followed annually until 9-years. PG and BC measurements were evaluated. Multilevel modeling was used.

Results: Annual increments were observed (p < .001). Girls presented lower height and fat-free-mass but higher %BF (p < .001). Distinct trajectories between the sexes were observed for height (p < .001). Low-birth-weight children presented lower height, body mass, and fat-free-mass (p < .001), but the interaction between velocity of growth and BC was significant only in height (p < .05). Children born by had lower height, body mass, and %BF, and gained less body mass per year than those born by vaginal delivery (p < .05). Significant inter-individual differences were observed at 5-years of age and in their trajectories, except for fat-free-mass (p < .01).

Conclusion: There are differences in the dynamics of PG and BC, low-birth-weight and type of delivery influence the dynamics of PG during this interval of ages.