Associations of Childcare Arrangements with Adiposity Measures in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Cohort: The GUSTO Study

Beverly Wen-Xin Wong, Jia Ying Toh, Ray Sugianto, Airu Chia, Mya Thway Tint, Wen Lun Yuan, Natarajan Padmapriya, Carla Lança, Seang-Mei Saw, Yung Seng Lee, Lynette Pei-Chi Shek, Kok Hian Tan, Fabian Yap, Keith M. Godfrey, Yap-Seng Chong, Falk Müller-Riemenschneider, Johan G. Eriksson, Shiao-Yng Chan and Mary Foong-Fong Chong
Additional contact information
Beverly Wen-Xin Wong: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
Jia Ying Toh: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
Ray Sugianto: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore
Airu Chia: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore
Mya Thway Tint: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
Wen Lun Yuan: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
Natarajan Padmapriya: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore
Carla Lança: Singapore Eye Research Institute, 20 College Rd, Singapore 169856, Singapore
Seang-Mei Saw: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore
Yung Seng Lee: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
Lynette Pei-Chi Shek: Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Kok Hian Tan: Graduate Medical School, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
Fabian Yap: Graduate Medical School, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
Keith M. Godfrey: Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Tremona Rd, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
Yap-Seng Chong: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
Falk Müller-Riemenschneider: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore
Johan G. Eriksson: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
Shiao-Yng Chan: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore
Mary Foong-Fong Chong: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: Childcare arrangements shape behavioural patterns that influence the risk of childhood obesity. However, little is known of its influence on childhood obesity in Singapore. We aim to examine the associations between childcare arrangements at the age of 5 years and childhood adiposity at age 6 years. Children from the GUSTO study were grouped into three childcare arrangements at age 5: full-time centre-based childcare (FC), partial centre-based with parental care (PCP), and partial centre-based with non-parents (grandparents and domestic helpers) as caregivers (PCN). Diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour information were collected at age 5, while anthropometric measurements were collected at age 6. Associations were analysed using multivariable regression models. Among 540 children, those in PCN had higher BMI z -scores ( ? : 0.34; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.66), greater sum of skinfold thicknesses (mm) ( ? : 3.75; 95% CI: 0.53, 6.97) and were 3.55 times (95% CI: 1.78, 7.05) more likely to be overweight/obese than those in FC. Adiposity measures in PCP children did not differ from those in FC. PCN children were reported to have more screen time and greater fast-food intake. Children in PCN tended to have higher adiposity measures. Greater engagement of non-parental caregivers should be considered in interventions targeting child obesity.

Keywords: childcare; adiposity; preschool; caregiver type; Asian (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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