Latent Class Analysis of Prenatal Characteristics and Their Associations With Early Childhood Weight

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective Identify patterns of obesity‐related prenatal characteristics across ecological system levels and examine associations with child weight at 2 years old. Methods Secondary analyses were conducted using data from 533 low‐income Hispanic families enrolled in a childhood obesity prevention intervention. Prenatal characteristics were assessed during the 3rd trimester and child weights at 2 years. Latent class analysis was conducted to identify groups of pregnant individuals with different patterns of prenatal characteristics. Associations between class membership and child weight outcomes at age 2 years were examined using the manual Bolck–Croon–Hagenaars method, controlling for intervention status. Results Three groups were identified: Non‐US born/Lower adverse SDOH (51%), Non‐US born/Higher adverse SDOH (25%) and US born/Lower adverse SDOH (24%). Children of participants in the Non‐US born/Higher adverse SDOH had significantly higher weight‐for‐age z ‐scores and higher odds of overweight or obesity compared to children of participants in the Non‐US born/Lower adverse SDOH ( M diff = 0.61, SE = 0.21, p = 0.003, 95% CI [0.27, 0.95]; aOR = 2.83, 95% CI [1.09, 2.59]) and Non‐US born/Higher adverse SDOH burden ( M diff = 0.55, SE = 0.20, p = 0.006, 95% CI [0.22, 0.89]; aOR = 2.83, 95% CI [1.09, 2.59]). Conclusions Higher concurrent levels of psychosocial stressors and material hardships during pregnancy may pose a particular risk for excess weight in early childhood, especially for children of non‐US‐born pregnant individuals.