Birth weight for gestational age, recovery of growth, and anthropometric profile of pre-school children born full term: a follow-up study

INTRODUCTION: Being born small for gestational age (SGA) implies an increase in the childhood morbidity and mortality rates, in addition to being related to changes in the pattern of growth and body composition, which may be associated with the development of risk factors linked to metabolic diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: To describe the development of anthropomorphic indicators of children born at full term, small (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA), up to the sixth month of life, and again when they reached school-age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study, with 31 children (19 SGA, and 12 AGA), recruited in public maternity hospitals. Subsequently they were attended at an outpatient clinic on a monthly basis, by a multidisciplinary team in the first year of life. These children were re-evaluated when they reached school-age. RESULTS: Both groups showed high percentages of exclusive breastfeeding in the first months of life. Group SGA showed intense early recovery of the growth indicators, characterizing recovery of growth in the first 6 months of life. However, at school-age, they were still smaller, lighter, with a lower quantity of body fat and muscle mass than those born AGA. There was predominance of appropriate anthropometric growth and body composition indicators at school-age, even in Group SGA. Conclusion: At school-age, the children of this study showed no major alterations related to anthropometry.