Table 1 Sample characteristics (n = 1939 children, n = 970 families).

From: Meal size is a critical driver of weight gain in early childhood

 

Analysis sample n (%) or mean (SD)

Sex

 Boys

940 (48.5)

 Girls

999 (51.5)

Ethnicity

 White

1858 (95.8)

 Non-white

81 (4.2)

Maternal educationa

 Low/intermediate

959 (49.5)

 High

980 (50.5)

 Age at baseline weight measurement (months)

24.35 (1.02)

 Age at diet diary completion (months)

20.58 (0.97)

 Gestational age (weeks)

36.20 (2.46)

 Weight at birth (kg)

2.46 (0.54)

 Weight SDS at birth

−0.55 (0.92)

 Weight at baseline (kg)

12.31 (1.44)

 Weight SDS at baseline

0.07 (1.03)

Weight status at baselineb

 Normal-weight

1606 (82.8)

 Overweight/obese

333 (17.2)

  1. Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; m, months; wk, weeks; kg, kilograms; BMI, body mass index; SDS, standard deviation score.
  2. aMaternal education was dichotomised into lower (no university education) and higher (university education).
  3. bWeight status at baseline (two years of age) was derived using weight standard deviation scores (SDS). Children were classified as overweight (n = 333) or normal weight (n = 1606) relative to the UK population mean in 1990, for the child’s age, sex, and gestational age39. Overweight was classified as weight SDS > 1.04 which equates to scores above the 85th percentile39, and normal weight (n = 1606) as SDS< = 1.04.
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