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Abstract Background The European Region has the lowest rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months worldwide. Improving work-related breastfeeding issues is important given that women may have difficulties combining work and breastfeeding, especially those in precarious working situations, which adds to their adversity. This scoping review overviews research on the maternal employment characteristics that support breastfeeding continuation after return to work in the European Region. Methods Studies published from 2013 to 2023 were collected from Scopus, PubMed, and PsycInfo. Quantitative and qualitative studies published in English or French that explored the association between maternal employment characteristics and any breastfeeding status, duration, or experience were included. Participants included were mothers of healthy children who continued breastfeeding after resuming work. The main determinants were work-related factors that can lead to socially differentiated working conditions, including type of employment (e.g., occupation, employed/self-employed status, type of contract, working time, occupational prestige), working conditions (e.g., work schedule, decision latitude, latitude to organize worktime), and work environment (e.g., occupational exposure, family-friendly workplace policy, social support). The geographic area encompassed countries included in the World Health Organization European Region. Results Of the 693 single studies retrieved and screened, 13 were included in the review. Eight studies focused on combining work and breastfeeding, while the others had a broader spectrum by investigating breastfeeding determinants. The represented countries were Spain (n = 4), France (n = 4), UK (n = 2), Ireland (n = 2), and the Netherlands (n = 1). Results highlighted the heterogeneity of measures, time frames, and fields of inquiry, thus revealing a lack of conceptual framework regarding the links between work, breastfeeding, and social health inequalities. Nonetheless, being self-employed, working in a non-manual profession with time flexibility, having lactation rooms at work, being supported by co-workers, and having a breastfeeding workplace policy were salient factors that supported breastfeeding in working mothers. Conclusions Supporting working mothers who choose to breastfeed is important given the myriad of adverse factors faced by mothers and their children. These results advocate for targeted actions at the workplace such as time flexibility, breastfeeding facilities, and the promotion of breastfeeding-friendly policies.

Background: Urban environments are characterized by many factors that may influence children’s energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs), but there is limited research on the impact of prospective exposure to multiple urban factors in preschoolers. We evaluated prospective associations between various urban exposures and EBRBs in preschoolers across Europe, with EBRBs considered both individually and combined into lifestyle patterns. Methods: We used data from 4,073 preschoolers (aged 3–4 years) participating in three European cohorts from the EU Child Cohort Network: BiB (United Kingdom), EDEN (France), and INMA (Spain). Eighteen built and food environment, green spaces, road traffic and ambient air pollution exposures were characterized at residential addresses. Various EBRBs were considered as the outcomes including screen time, sleep duration and diet (fruit, vegetables, discretionary sweet foods, sweet beverages) individually and combined into unhealthy lifestyle patterns, using principal components analysis. Associations between urban exposures and outcomes were estimated using a single-exposure analysis and the deletion-substitution-addition algorithm was used to construct multi-exposure models. Results: In multi-exposure models, greater walkability and smaller distance to the nearest road were associated with higher scores on the unhealthy lifestyle patterns. Likewise, greater walkability was associated with higher screen time and more frequent discretionary sweet food consumption. A smaller distance to the nearest road was also associated with lower sleep duration and more frequent sweet beverages consumption. On the other hand, higher levels of street connectivity showed an inverse association with the unhealthy lifestyle patterns. In the same vein, greater street connectivity was associated with decreased screen time. Conclusion: This comprehensive examination of multiple urban exposures indicates that residing in walkable environments and in close proximity to roads in densely-populated areas may not be advantageous for children EBRBs, while residing in neighborhoods with higher street connectivity appears to supposedly be beneficial.

Abstract Background Tracking combinations of lifestyle behaviours during childhood (“lifestyle pattern trajectories”) can identify subgroups of children that might benefit from lifestyle interventions aiming to improve health outcomes later in life. However, studies on the critical transition period from early to middle childhood are limited. We aimed to describe lifestyle patterns trajectories in children from 2 to 8 years of age and evaluated their associations with cardiometabolic risk markers at age 8 years in a multi-ethnic Asian cohort. Methods Twelve lifestyle behaviours related to child’s diet, physical activity, screen use, and sleep were ascertained using questionnaires at ages 2, 5, and 8 years. Age-specific lifestyle patterns were derived using principal component analysis and trajectories were determined using group-based multi-trajectory modelling. Child cardiometabolic risk markers were assessed at age 8 years, and associations with trajectories examined using multiple regression, adjusted for confounders. Results Among 546 children, two lifestyle patterns “healthy” and “unhealthy” were observed at ages 2, 5, and 8 years separately. Three trajectory groups from 2 to 8 years were identified: consistently healthy (11%), consistently unhealthy (18%), and mixed pattern (71%). Children in the consistently unhealthy group (vs. mixed pattern) had increased odds of pre-hypertension (OR = 2.96 [95% CI 1.18–7.41]) and higher levels of diastolic blood pressure (β = 1.91 [0.27–3.55] mmHg), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (β = 0.43 [0.13–0.74]), triglycerides (β = 0.11 [0.00-0.22] mmol/L), and metabolic syndrome score (β = 0.85 [0.20–1.49]), but not with BMI z-score or any anthropometric measurements. The consistently healthy group showed no differences in cardiometabolic outcomes compared to the mixed pattern group. Conclusion Three distinct lifestyle pattern trajectories were identified from early to middle childhood. Children in the consistently unhealthy lifestyle group did not have a raised BMI but was associated with several elevated cardiometabolic risk markers. These findings suggest the potential benefits of initiating holistic lifestyle interventions to improve children’s health and well-being from an early age. Trial registration Trial registration number: NCT01174875. Name of registry: ClinicalTrials.gov. URL of registry: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01174875 . Date of registration: August 4, 2010. Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: June 2009.

Abstract An inverse social gradient in early childhood overweight has been consistently described in high-income countries; however, less is known about the role of migration status. We studied the social patterning of overweight in preschool children according to the mother’s socio-economic and migration background. For 9250 children of the French ELFE birth cohort with body mass index collected at age 3.5 years, we used nested logistic regression to investigate the association of overweight status in children with maternal educational level, occupation, household income and migration status. Overall, 8.3% (95%CI [7.7–9.0]) of children were classified as overweight. The odds of overweight was increased for children from immigrant mothers (OR 2.22 [95% CI 1.75–2.78]) and descendants of immigrant mothers (OR 1.35 [1.04–2.78]) versus non-immigrant mothers. The highest odds of overweight was also observed in children whose mothers had low education, were unemployed or students, or were from households in the lowest income quintile. Our findings confirm that socio-economic disadvantage and migration status are risk factors for childhood overweight. However, the social patterning of overweight did not apply uniformly to all variables. These new and comprehensive insights should inform future public health interventions aimed at tackling social inequalities in childhood overweight.

Abstract Objective: Behavioural patterns are important in understanding the synergistic effect of multiple health behaviours on childhood adiposity. Most previous evidence assessing associations between patterns and adiposity were cross-sectional and investigated two or three behaviour domains within patterns. This study aimed to identify behavioural patterns comprising four behaviour domains and investigate associations with adiposity risk in children. Design: Parent-report and accelerometry data were used to capture daily dietary, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep data. Variables were standardised and included in the latent profile analysis to derive behavioural patterns. Trained researchers measured children’s height, weight and waist circumference using standardised protocols. Associations of patterns and adiposity measures were tested using multiple linear regression. Setting: Melbourne, Australia. Participants: A total of 337 children followed up at 6–8 years (T2) and 9–11 years (T3). Results: Three patterns derived at 6–8 years were broadly identified to be healthy, unhealthy and mixed patterns. Patterns at 9–11 years were dissimilar except for the unhealthy pattern. Individual behaviours characterising the patterns varied over time. No significant cross-sectional or prospective associations were observed with adiposity at both time points; however, children displaying the unhealthy pattern had higher adiposity measures than other patterns. Conclusion: Three non-identical patterns were identified at 6–8 and 9–11 years. The individual behaviours that characterised patterns (dominant behaviours) at both ages are possible drivers of the patterns obtained and could explain the lack of associations with adiposity. Identifying individual behaviour pattern drivers and strategic intervention are key to maintain and prevent the decline of healthy patterns.

Abstract Background In high income countries one in five children still lives in poverty, which is known to adversely shape the life course health trajectory of these children. However, much less is understood on whether social and fiscal policies have the capacity to reverse this damage, which intervention is likely to be most effective and when these interventions should be delivered to maximise their impact. This systematic review attempts to address these questions by looking at the impact of income-support interventions, delivered during the first 1,000 days of life, on cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory and mental health outcomes. Methods The review was restricted to experimental or quasi experimental studies conducted in high income countries. Studies were retrieved from multidisciplinary databases as well as health, economic, social sciences-specific literature browsers. All papers retrieved through the search strategy were double screened at title, abstract and full text stage. Relevant data of the selected studies were extracted and collected in tables, then summarised via narrative synthesis approach. Robustness of findings was assessed by tabulating impact by health outcome, type of intervention and study design. Results Overall, 16 relevant papers were identified, including 15 quasi-experimental studies and one randomized control trial (RCT). Income-support interventions included were unconditional/conditional cash transfers, income tax credit and minimum wage salary policies. Most studies were conducted in United States and Canada. Overall, the evidence suggested limited effect on mental health indicators but a positive, albeit small, effect of most policies on birth weight outcomes. Despite this, according to few studies that tried to extrapolate the results into public health terms, the potential number of negative outcomes averted might be consistent. Conclusions Income-support interventions can positively affect some of the health outcomes of interest in this review, including birth weight and mental health. Given the large number of people targeted by these programs, one could infer that – despite small – the observed effect may be still relevant at population level. Nonetheless, the limited generalisability of the evidence gathered hampers firm conclusions. For the future, the breadth and scope of this literature need to be broadened to fully exploit the potential of these interventions and understand how their public health impact can be maximised.

Abstract Background Excessive screen time in infancy and childhood has been associated with consequences on children’s development and health. International guidelines call for no screen time before age 2 years, whereas in France, the most prominent guidelines recommend no screen before age 3 years. However, data are lacking on parental adherence to the no-screen guideline for toddlers and factors of adherence in France. Using data from the French nationwide Elfe birth cohort, we estimated adherence to the no-screen guideline at age 2 years and examined related factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, parental leisure activities and screen time. Methods In 2011, 18,329 newborns and their parents were enrolled in 349 randomly selected maternity units across mainland France. At age 2 years, screen exposure of 13,117 toddlers was reported by parents in phone interviews. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, parental leisure activities and screen time were collected from both parents. Three patterns of parental leisure activities were derived by principal component analysis: literate (e.g.,reading), screen-based, and physical/artistic activities. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, parental leisure activities and parental screen time with adherence to the no-screen guideline for toddlers. Results Overall, 1809/13,117 (13.5%) families adhered to the no-screen guideline for toddlers. Adherence was reduced with maternal age

The preconception period represents an important window for foetal and epigenetic programming. Some micronutrients (B vitamins, choline, betaine, methionine) implicated in one-carbon metabolism (OCM) are essential for major epigenetic processes that take place in early pregnancy. However, few studies have evaluated the implication of the micronutrients in placental DNA methylation. We investigated whether intake of OCM nutrients in the year before pregnancy was associated with placental DNA methylation in the EDEN mother–child cohort. Maternal dietary intake was assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire. Three dietary patterns, ‘varied and balanced diet,’ ‘vegetarian tendency,’ and ‘bread and starchy food,’ were used to characterize maternal OCM dietary intake. The Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip was used to measure placental DNA methylation of 573 women included in the analyses. We evaluated the association of dietary patterns with global DNA methylation. Then, we conducted an agnostic epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and investigated differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with each dietary pattern. We found no significant association between the three dietary patterns and global DNA methylation or individual CpG sites. DMR analyses highlighted associations between the ‘varied and balanced’ or ‘vegetarian tendency’ pattern and DMRs located at genes previously implicated in functions essential for embryonic development, such as neurodevelopment. The ‘bread and starchy food’ pattern was associated with regions related to genes whose functions involve various metabolic and cell synthesis-related processes. In mainly well-nourished French women without major deficiencies, OCM intake before pregnancy was not associated with major variation in DNA methylation.

IntroductionHigh prevalence of overweight and obesity already observed in preschool children suggests the involvement of early-life risk factors. Preconception period and pregnancy are crucial windows for the implementation of child obesity prevention interventions with parental lifestyle factors as relevant targets. So far, most studies have evaluated their role separately, with only a few having investigated their potential synergistic effect on childhood obesity. Our objective was to investigate parental lifestyle patterns in the preconception and pregnancy periods and their association with the risk of child overweight after 5 years.Materials and methodsWe harmonized and interpreted results from four European mother-offspring cohorts participating in the EndObesity Consortium [EDEN, France; Elfe, France; Lifeways, Ireland; and Generation R, Netherlands] with data available for 1,900, 18,000, 1,100, and 9,500 families, respectively. Lifestyle factors were collected using questionnaires and included parental smoking, body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain, diet, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. We applied principal component analyses to identify parental lifestyle patterns in preconception and pregnancy. Their association with risk of overweight (including obesity; OW-OB) and BMI z-scores between 5 and 12 years were assessed using cohort-specific multivariable logistic and linear and regression models (adjusted for potential confounders including parental age, education level, employment status, geographic origin, parity, and household income).ResultsAmong the various lifestyle patterns derived in all cohorts, the two explaining the most variance were characterized by (1) “high parental smoking, low maternal diet quality (and high maternal sedentary behavior in some cohorts)” and, (2) “high parental BMI and low gestational weight gain.” Patterns characterized by high parental BMI, smoking, low diet quality or high sedentary lifestyle before or during pregnancy were associated with higher risk of OW-OB in children, and BMI z-score at any age, with consistent strengths of associations in the main cohorts, except for lifeways.ConclusionThis project provides insight into how combined parental lifestyle factors in the preconception and pregnancy periods are associated with the future risk of child obesity. These findings are valuable to inform family-based and multi-behavioural child obesity prevention strategies in early life.

BackgroundSheltered homeless families suffer from deleterious living conditions such as housing instability (i.e., moving from one shelter to another) that could be an additional barrier to healthcare utilization. Few studies have specifically examined perinatal health in homeless mothers and their utilization of prenatal healthcare. This study aimed to identify social determinants such as living conditions (i.e., housing instability) associated with inadequate prenatal care utilization (PCU) in sheltered homeless mothers in the Greater Paris area in France.MethodsThe homeless children and families cross-sectional survey [ENFAMS: (Enfants et familles sans logement)] was performed on a random representative sample of homeless families living in shelters in the greater Paris area in 2013. Following French guidelines, PCU was deemed inadequate if one or more of the following criteria was met: attending fewer than 50% of recommended prenatal visits, PCU initiation after the first trimester of pregnancy, and fewer than three ultrasounds during the entire pregnancy. Families were interviewed in 17 languages by trained peer interviewers in face-to-face interviews. Structural equation modeling was used to identify factors associated with inadequate PCU and to estimate correlations between them.ResultsThis study analyzed data on 121 homeless sheltered mothers who had at least one child less than one year old. They were socially disadvantaged and most were born outside France. One in five (19.3%) had inadequate PCU. Associated factors were socio-demographic characteristics (young age, primiparous), health status (dissatisfaction with self-perceived general health), and living conditions (housing instability in the second and third trimesters).ConclusionIt is essential to reduce housing instability to help sheltered mothers to benefit from social, territorial and medical support and healthcare utilization. Housing stability for pregnant sheltered homeless mothers should be a priority to ensure better PCU and guarantee the newborn's health as much as possible.

Abstract Background Integrated patterns of energy balance-related behaviours of preschool children in Asia are sparse, with few comparative analyses. Purpose Using cohorts in Singapore (GUSTO) and France (EDEN), we characterized lifestyle patterns of children and investigated their associations with family-focused contextual factors. Methods Ten behavioural variables related to child’s diet, walking, outdoor play and screen time were ascertained by parental questionnaires at age 5–6 years. Using principal component analysis, sex-specific lifestyle patterns were derived independently for 630 GUSTO and 989 EDEN children. Contextual variables were organised into distal (family socio-economics, demographics), intermediate (parental health, lifestyle habits) and proximal (parent-child interaction factors) levels of influence and analysed with hierarchical linear regression. Results Three broadly similar lifestyle patterns were identified in both cohorts: “discretionary consumption and high screen time”, “fruit, vegetables, and low screen time” and “high outdoor playtime and walking”. The latter two patterns showed small differences between cohorts and sexes. The “discretionary consumption and high screen time” pattern was consistently similar in both cohorts; distal associated factors were lower maternal education (EDEN boys), no younger siblings (GUSTO boys) and Malay/Indian ethnicity (GUSTO), while intermediate and proximal associated factors in both cohorts and sexes were poor maternal diets during pregnancy, parents allowing high child control over food intake, snacking between meals and having television on while eating. Conclusions Three similar lifestyle patterns were observed among preschool children in Singapore and France. There were more common associated proximal factors than distal ones. Cohort specific family-focused contextual factors likely reflect differences in social and cultural settings. Findings will aid development of strategies to improve child health.

BackgroundEarly childhood may represent an opportune time to commence primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD, i.e., prevention of risk factors onset), but epidemiological evidence is scarce. We aimed to examine the distribution and parental and early life determinants of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) in children up to 5 years and to compare the level of cognitive development between children with and without ideal CVH at age 5 years.MethodsUsing data from the Etude sur les déterminants pré et post natals précoces du Développement psychomoteur et de la santé de l'Enfant (EDEN) study, a French population-based mother–child cohort study, CVH was examined in children at 5 years of age based on the American Heart Association CVH metrics (ideal body mass index, physical activity, diet, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, and passive smoking, considered in sensitivity analysis only). Children were categorized as having ideal (five to six ideal metrics) or non-ideal CVH (

Although an early adiposity rebound (AR) is an established risk factor for later obesity, little is known regarding its determinants, especially modifiable ones. Using data from the French EDEN mother–child cohort (1903 children born in 2003–2006), we aimed to examine the association between diet and activity-related behaviors at 2 years of age and the timing of the AR. Two-year-old children (n = 1138) with parent-reported data on their foods/drinks intake, TV/DVD watching time, outdoor playtime, and with an estimated (via growth modelling) age at AR were included in the present study. Two dietary patterns, labelled 'Nutrient-dense foods' and 'Processed and fast foods', were identified in a previous study. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the association between dietary patterns and activity-related behaviors and, respectively, the age at AR (continuous) and the likelihood of having a very early AR (before 3.6 years for girls and 3.8 years for boys, i.e., below the 10th percentile of sex-specific distribution). A higher score on the ‘Processed and fast foods’ dietary pattern was associated with a higher likelihood of having a very early AR (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.50). No significant association was observed between the ‘Nutrient-dense foods’ dietary pattern, TV/DVD watching and outdoor playing times and the timing of the AR. This finding emphasizes the importance of reducing nutrient-dense and processed foods from the early years of life, and provides further support for early interventions aimed at helping parents establish healthy eating habits for their growing child from the complementary period.

Abstract Background The few health behavior interventions commencing in infancy have shown promising effects. Greater insight into their longer-term benefits is required. This study aimed to assess post-intervention effects of the Melbourne INFANT Program to child age 5y on diet, movement and adiposity. Methods Two and 3.5y post-intervention follow-up (2011–13; analyses completed 2019) of participants retained in the Melbourne INFANT Program at its conclusion (child age ~ 19 m; 2008–10) was conducted. The Melbourne INFANT Program is a 15-month, six session program delivered within first-time parent groups in Melbourne, Australia, between child age 4-19 m. It involves strategies to help parents promote healthy diet, physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior in their infants. No intervention was delivered during the follow-up period reported in this paper. At all time points height, weight and waist circumference were measured by researchers, children wore Actigraph and activPAL accelerometers for 8-days, mothers reported children’s television viewing and use of health services. Children’s dietary intake was reported by mothers in three unscheduled telephone-administered 24-h recalls. Results Of those retained at program conclusion (child age 18 m, n = 480; 89%), 361 families (75% retention) participated in the first follow-up (2y post-intervention; age 3.6y) and 337 (70% retention) in the second follow-up (3.5y post-intervention; age 5y). At 3.6y children in the intervention group had higher fruit (adjusted mean difference [MD] = 25.34 g; CI95:1.68,48.99), vegetable (MD = 19.41; CI95:3.15,35.67) and water intake (MD = 113.33; CI95:40.42,186.25), than controls. At 5y they consumed less non-core drinks (MD = -27.60; CI95:-54.58,-0.62). Sweet snack intake was lower for intervention children at both 3.6y (MD = -5.70; CI95:-9.75,-1.65) and 5y (MD = -6.84; CI95:-12.47,-1.21). Intervention group children viewed approximately 10 min/day less television than controls at both follow-ups, although the confidence intervals spanned zero (MD = -9.63; CI95:-30.79,11.53; MD = -11.34; CI95:-25.02,2.34, respectively). There was no evidence for effect on zBMI, waist circumference z-score or physical activity. Conclusions The impact of this low-dose intervention delivered during infancy was still evident up to school commencement age for several targeted health behaviors but not adiposity. Some of these effects were only observed after the conclusion of the intervention, demonstrating the importance of long-term follow-up of interventions delivered during early childhood. Trial registration ISRCTN Register ISRCTN81847050 , registered 7th November 2007.

Abstract Background Despite the growing interest in the relation between adiposity in children and different lifestyle clusters, few studies used a longitudinal design to examine a large range of behaviors in various contexts, in particular eating- and sleep-related routines, and few studies have examined these factors in young children. The objectives of this study were to identify clusters of boys and girls based on diet, sleep and activity-related behaviors and their family environment at 2 and 5 years of age, and to assess whether the clusters identified varied across maternal education levels and were associated with body fat at age 5. Methods At 2 and 5 years, respectively, 1436 and 1195 parents from the EDEN mother-child cohort completed a questionnaire including behavioral data. A latent class analysis aimed to uncover gender-specific behavioral clusters. Body fat percentage was estimated by anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance measurements. Association between cluster membership and body fat was assessed with mutivariable linear regression models. Results At 2 years, two clusters emerged that were essentially characterized by opposite eating habits. At 5 years, TV exposure was the most distinguishing feature, but the numbers and types of clusters differed by gender. An association between cluster membership and body fat was found only in girls at 5 years of age, with girls in the cluster defined by very high TV exposure and unfavorable mealtime habits (despite high outdoor playing and walking time) having the highest body fat. Girls whose mother had low educational attainment were more likely to be in this high-risk cluster. Girls who were on a cluster evolution path corresponding to the highest TV viewing time and the least favorable mealtime habits from 2 to 5 years of age had higher body fat at 5 years. Conclusions Efforts to decrease TV time and improve mealtime routines may hold promise for preventing overweight in young children, especially girls growing up in disadvantaged families. These preventive efforts should start as early in life as possible, ideally before the age of two, and should be sustained over the preschool years.

Objectives: To assess (1) whether a history of allergy is associated with feeding with organic foods (OFs) during the complementary feeding period and (2) whether OF consumption in infancy is related to the incidence of respiratory and allergic diseases up to age 5.5 years.Study Design: Analyses involved more than 8,000 children from the nationwide Étude Longitudinale Française depuis l'Enfance (ELFE) birth cohort. Associations between family or infant history of allergy and frequency of OF consumption during the complementary feeding period were assessed with multinomial logistic regression. Associations between OF consumption in infancy and respiratory or allergic diseases between age 1 and 5.5 years were assessed with logistic regression.Results: A family history of allergy or cow's milk protein allergy at age 2 months was strongly and positively related to feeding with OF during the complementary feeding period. Feeding with OF during the complementary feeding period was not related to respiratory diseases or eczema up to age 5.5 years. Compared to infrequent consumption of both organic and commercial complementary foods, frequent OF consumption without commercial complementary foods was associated with a higher risk of food allergy, whereas frequent commercial complementary food consumption without OF use was associated with a lower risk of food allergy.Conclusions: This study suggests that a history of allergy strongly affects feeding with OF during the complementary feeding period. However, OF consumption was not associated with reduced odds of food allergy later in childhood but could be associated with increased odds, which should be examined more deeply.

IntroductionPromoting healthy eating and active play in early life is critical, however few interventions have been delivered or sustained at scale. The evaluation of interventions at scale is a crucial, yet under-researched aspect of modifying population-level health behaviours. INFANT is an evidence-based early childhood healthy lifestyle intervention that aims to improve parents’ knowledge and skills around promoting optimal energy balance-related behaviours that, in turn, influence children’s diet, activity and adiposity. It consists of: 1) Four group sessions delivered via first time parent groups across the first 12 months of life; 2) access to the My Baby Now app from birth to 18 months of age. This research aims to assess real-world implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of INFANT when delivered at scale across Victoria, Australia.Methods and AnalysisA hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness trial applying a mixed methods design will be conducted. INFANT will be implemented in collaboration with practice and policy partners including maternal and child health services, population health and Aboriginal health, targeting all local government areas (n=79) in Victoria, Australia. Evaluation is based on criteria from the ‘Outcomes for Implementation Research’ and ‘RE-AIM’ frameworks. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using descriptive quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with those involved in implementation, and include intervention reach, organisational acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, cost, feasibility, penetration and sustainability. Process measures include organizational readiness, fidelity, and adaptation. Effectiveness outcomes will be assessed using a sample of INFANT participants and a non-randomized comparison group receiving usual care (1,500 infants in each group), recruited within the same communities. Eligible participants will be first time primary caregivers of an infant aged 0-3 months, owning a personal mobile phone and able to communicate in English. Effectiveness outcomes include infant lifestyle behaviours and BMIz at 12 and 18 months of age.ImpactThis is the first known study to evaluate the scale up of an evidence based early childhood obesity prevention intervention under real world conditions. This study has the potential to provide generalisable implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness evidence to inform the future scale up of public health interventions both in Australia and internationally.Clinical Trial RegistrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry https://www.anzctr.org.au/, identifier ACTRN12620000670976.

Abstract In high‐income countries, breastfeeding has been shown to be positively associated with socioeconomic position. However, less is known about breastfeeding practices and their associated factors among extremely disadvantaged populations. We aimed to assess the associations of cultural origins and socioeconomic factors with any breastfeeding initiation and duration in homeless families. We analyzed data from 456 children aged 6 months to 5 years from the cross‐sectional ENFAMS survey, conducted in 2013 among a random sample of homeless families in shelters in the Greater Paris area. Data were collected by bilingual interviewers in 17 languages. Four nested multivariable robust Poisson regression models were run in a hierarchical framework to determine the factors associated with breastfeeding initiation and with any breastfeeding for 6 months or more. Most of the children (86.0%) had previously been or were currently being breastfed at the time of the survey; 58.9% were fed with breast milk ≥6 months. A higher maternal age and African origin were positively associated with breastfeeding ≥6 months, although the relation to the region of origin was moderated by education level. Migration to escape war, unrest or other violence and the child's birth in France were inversely associated with breastfeeding ≥6 months. Any breastfeeding by these homeless mothers seems influenced predominantly by their cultural origin and complicated by a difficult migration trajectory. The possible influence of poor material circumstances and cumulative hardship should encourage interventions targeted at homeless mothers that emphasize social/family support with a commitment to improving the family's living conditions.

Abstract Better adherence to dietary guidelines during pregnancy is supposed to result in healthier perinatal outcomes. We aim to characterize the diets of pregnant women by hypothesis‐driven and exploratory approaches and describe potential social determinants. Analyses included 12 048 mothers from the French nationwide ELFE birth cohort. Dietary intake over the last three months of the pregnancy was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. Two hypothesis‐driven scores (the Diet Quality score, based on benchmarks derived from the National Health and Nutrition Program Guidelines, and the PANDiet score, based on nutrient intake) were calculated. Exploratory dietary patterns were also identified by principal component analysis. Multiple linear regressions were used to assess associations of maternal social characteristics with dietary patterns, accounting for the possible effect modification by their migration status. Five dietary patterns were identified: the Western, Balanced, Bread and toppings, Processed products, and Milk and breakfast cereals. Younger maternal age, single motherhood, unemployment and the presence of older children in the household were related to a suboptimal diet during pregnancy. The less acculturated the women were, the healthier and less processed their diets were, independent of their socio‐economic position. Several social determinants of the quality of women's diets were however moderated by their migration status. These findings shed light on the relations between indicators of social vulnerability, such as single motherhood and unemployment, and poorer diet quality. Given the reduced diet quality that accompanies the acculturation process, it is of paramount importance to identify the specific factors or obstacles that affect migrant women in maintaining their diet quality advantage over the majority population.

This study aimed to characterize paternal diet during the peri-conception period and its associated characteristics. These cross-sectional analyses were based on 998 fathers from the French nationwide ELFE birth cohort recruited in 2011. Fathers’ diet before mothers’ pregnancies was assessed by a 46-item food frequency questionnaire. Six exploratory dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis: “Diverse diet”, “Balanced”, “Alcohol”, “Snacking”, “Bread and cheese”, and “Processed products”. Older age was related to higher scores for the “Balanced”, “Alcohol”, and “Snacking” patterns, and high education level with high scores on the “Balanced” pattern and low scores on the “Processed products” pattern. Unemployment and having a first child were related to high scores on the “Alcohol” pattern. Smoking was positively related to “Alcohol” and “Processed products” patterns. A restrictive diet was associated with high scores on the “Balanced” and “Processed products” patterns and low scores on “Alcohol”, “Snacking”, and “Bread and cheese” patterns. Maternal dietary patterns, identified in a previous analysis, were moderately and positively related to the similar patterns among fathers. These findings are important for screening fathers at risk of a suboptimal diet and for accounting for this factor in future studies to examine the specific influence of paternal diet on a child’s health and development.

BackgroundBehavioural patterns are typically derived using unsupervised multivariate methods such as principal component analysis (PCA), latent profile analysis (LPA) and cluster analysis (CA). Comparability and congruence between the patterns derived from these methods has not been previously investigated, thus it's unclear whether patterns from studies using different methods are directly comparable. This study aimed to compare behavioural patterns derived across diet, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep domains, using PCA, LPA and CA in a single dataset.MethodsParent-report and accelerometry data from the second wave (2011/12; child age 6-8y, n = 432) of the HAPPY cohort study (Melbourne, Australia) were used to derive behavioural patterns using PCA, LPA and CA. Standardized variables assessing diet (intake of fruit, vegetable, sweet, and savoury discretionary items), physical activity (moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity [MVPA] from accelerometry, organised sport duration and outdoor playtime from parent report), sedentary behaviour (sedentary time from accelerometry, screen time, videogames and quiet playtime from parent report) and sleep (daily sleep duration) were included in the analyses. For each method, commonly used criteria for pattern retention were applied.ResultsPCA produced four patterns whereas LPA and CA each generated three patterns. Despite the number and characterisation of the behavioural patterns derived being non-identical, each method identified a healthy, unhealthy and a mixed pattern. Three common underlying themes emerged across the methods for each type of pattern: (i) High fruit and vegetable intake and high outdoor play ("healthy"); (ii) poor diet (either low fruit and vegetable intake or high discretionary food intake) and high sedentary behaviour ("unhealthy"); and (iii) high MVPA, poor diet (as defined above) and low sedentary time ("mixed").ConclusionWithin this sample, despite differences in the number of patterns derived by each method, a good degree of concordance across pattern characteristics was seen between the methods. Differences between patterns could be attributable to the underpinning statistical technique of each method. Therefore, acknowledging the differences between the methods and ensuring thorough documentation of the pattern derivation analyses is essential to inform comparison of patterns derived through a range of approaches across studies.

Background The diet impact on cardiovascular diseases has been investigated widely, but the association between dietary patterns (DPs) and subclinical cardiovascular damage remains unclear. More informative DPs could be provided by considering metabolic syndrome components as intermediate markers. This study aimed to identify DPs according to generation and sex using reduced‐rank regression (RRR) with metabolic syndrome components as intermediate markers and assess their associations with intima‐media thickness, left ventricular mass, and carotid‐femoral pulse‐wave velocity in an initially healthy population‐based family study. Methods and Results This study included 1527 participants from the STANISLAS (Suivi Temporaire Annuel Non‐Invasif de la Santé des Lorrains Assurés Sociaux) cohort fourth examination. DPs were derived using reduced‐rank regression according to generation (G1: age ≥50 years; G2: age

Identifying correlates of behavioural patterns are important to target population sub-groups at increased health risk. The aim was to investigate correlates of behavioural patterns comprising four behavioural domains in children. Data were from the HAPPY study when children were 6–8 years (n = 335) and 9–11 years (n = 339). Parents reported correlate and behavioural data (dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep). Behavioural data were additionally captured using accelerometers. Latent profile analysis was used to derive patterns. Patterns were identified as healthy, unhealthy, and mixed at both time points. Multinomial logistic regression tested for associations. Girls were more likely to display healthy patterns at 6–8 years and display unhealthy and mixed patterns at 9–11 years than boys, compared to other patterns at the corresponding ages. Increased risk of displaying the unhealthy pattern with higher age was observed at both timepoints. At 9–11 years, higher parental working hours were associated with lower risk of displaying mixed patterns compared to the healthy pattern. Associations observed revealed girls and older children to be at risk for unhealthy patterns, warranting customisation of health efforts to these groups. The number of behaviours included when deriving patterns and the individual behaviours that dominate each pattern appear to be drivers of the associations for child level, but not for family level, correlates.

Energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs), i.e., diet, sedentary behavior, physical activity, and sleep, combine into lifestyle patterns, which we aim to identify in French preschoolers and analyze their family correlates within the framework of a comprehensive socioecological model. Parental questionnaires provided information about family characteristics and children’s EBRBs for 978 5-year-olds of the EDEN cohort. We used principal component analysis to derive lifestyle patterns from EBRBs and hierarchical multivariable linear regressions to assess their associations with family socio-demographics, parent health/behaviors, and parent-child interactions. Analyses were stratified by sex. Of the three lifestyle patterns identified (unhealthy, healthy, and mixed), the mixed pattern differed the most between sexes. Lower parental education, suboptimal maternal diet, TV during meals, and later bedtime were associated with higher adherence to unhealthy patterns. Children cognitively stimulated at home and boys of mothers not employed adhered more to the healthy pattern. Older siblings (for girls) and higher engagement of parents in leisure-time physical activity (for boys) were related to greater adherence to mixed patterns. The identification of various correlates from multiple socioecological levels suggests that tackling the potentially synergistic effect of lifestyle patterns on health requires addressing processes relevant to the parent-child dimension and structural barriers parents may encounter.

Family characteristics such as education level or income are related to infant feeding practices. This study aimed to characterize infant feeding practices and investigate their associations with family characteristics. Analyses were performed with data from a French nationwide cohort, Etude Longitudinale Française depuis l’Enfance (ELFE). Feeding practices were characterized by two methods, a principal component analysis and a hierarchical ascendant classification (n = 8922). This characterization was conducted in three steps: considering firstly only introduction of main food groups, then also food pieces and finally adding the type of complementary food. The associations between family characteristics and the infant feeding patterns or clusters were tested by linear or multinomial regressions (n = 7556). Besides breastfeeding duration and age of first introduction of complementary foods, it appeared also important to consider specific food groups such as sweetened beverages and cow’s milk, and the introduction of food pieces, to describe feeding practices. Recommended feeding practices (longer breastfeeding, complementary food in the right period) were related to higher maternal age and education level, so was migration status, the presence of older children, low income or the mothers’ attendance to pre-birth preparation classes. The interrelations between feeding practices and family characteristics must be considered when examining the influence of feeding practices on child’s health.

Few studies have evaluated the role of methylation-pathway nutrients involved in fetal growth (B vitamins, choline, betaine, and methionine). These one-carbon metabolism (OCM) nutrients are essential for DNA methylation in the periconception period. We aimed to characterize dietary patterns of 1638 women from the EDEN mother-child cohort in the year before pregnancy according to the contribution of OCM nutrients and to study the association of such patterns with anthropometric measurements at birth. Dietary intake before pregnancy was assessed by using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We used the reduced-rank regression (RRR) method to identify dietary patterns using OCM nutrients as intermediate variables. We ran linear regressions models to study the association between dietary patterns scores and birth weight, length, head circumference, gestational age, and sex-specific z-scores, adjusting for maternal characteristics and vitamin supplementation before and during pregnancy. Three patterns, “varied and balanced”, “vegetarian tendency”, and “bread and starchy food” were identified, explaining 58% of the variability in OCM nutrient intake. Higher scores on the “varied and balanced” pattern tended to be associated with higher birth length and weight. In mainly well-nourished young French women, we did not find evidence that variability in OCM nutrient intake has major effects on fetal growth.

Traditional approaches to understanding the behavioural determinants of adiposity have considered diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in isolation. Although integrative approaches have identified a variety of lifestyle patterns in children at preschool-age or older, along with some variability by socio-economic positions, this has rarely been examined in younger cohorts. We aimed to identify lifestyle patterns at 1.5, 3.5 and 5 years, including dietary intake, outdoor time and television viewing time, to assess associations with maternal education (as a proxy for socio-economic position), and to investigate their persistence between toddlerhood and preschool age. Participants were 417 and 293 children aged 1.5 y from the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) and InFANT Extend Programs, respectively. Data were collected using questionnaires at child ages 1.5, 3.5 and 5 y (InFANT); and 1.5 and 3.5 y (InFANT Extend). Principal component analysis was undertaken at each time point on the separate and pooled datasets. Associations between the lifestyle patterns scores and maternal education were assessed with multivariable regression analysis. Two lifestyle patterns (“Discretionary consumption and TV” and “Fruit, vegetables and outdoor”) were identified as early as 1.5 y. They remained consistent across ages and were evident in both datasets. These patterns were inversely and positively associated with maternal education, respectively. Such early clustering of obesity related energy balance behaviours and tracking during early childhood suggests there may be shared antecedents common to the individual behaviours that could be targeted for intervention. Our findings provide support for interventions targeting multiple behaviours and tailored to the level of family socio-economic disadvantage.

In low- and middle-income countries, the protective effect of breastfeeding against infections is well established, but in high-income countries, the effect could be weakened by higher hygienic conditions. We aimed to examine the association between breastfeeding and infections in the first 2 years of life, in a high-income country with relatively short breastfeeding duration. Among 10,349 young children from the nationwide Etude Longitudinale Française depuis l’Enfance (ELFE) birth cohort, breastfeeding and parent-reported hospitalizations, bronchiolitis and otitis events, and antibiotic use were prospectively collected up to 2 years. Never-breastfed infants were used as reference group. Any breastfeeding for

Most professional and international organizations recommend folic acid supplementation for women planning pregnancy. Various studies have shown high levels of non-compliance with this recommendation. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic characteristics related to this compliance. The analyses were based on 16,809 women from the French nationwide ELFE cohort (Etude Longitudinale Française depuis l’Enfance). Folic acid supplementation was assessed at delivery, and sociodemographic characteristics were collected at two months postpartum. The association between sociodemographic characteristics and compliance with recommendations on folic acid supplementation (no supplementation, periconceptional supplementation, and supplementation only after the periconceptional period) was examined using multivariate multinomial logistic regression. Only 26% of French women received folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period, 10% of women received supplementation after the periconceptional period, and 64% received no supplementation. Young maternal age, low education level, low family income, multiparity, single parenthood, maternal unemployment, maternal overweight, and smoking during pregnancy were related to lower likelihood of folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period compared to no supplementation. These associations were not explained by unplanned pregnancy. Immigrant and underweight women were more likely to receive folic acid supplementation after the periconceptional period. Our study confirms great social disparities in France regarding the compliance with the recommendations on folic acid supplementation.

The consumption of sugar, salt, and fat in infancy may influence later health. The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of use of added sugar, salt, and fat during the complementary feeding period and the associated infant caregiving practices. Data were obtained from a monthly questionnaire filled by parents for 10,907 infants from the French Etude Longitudinale Française depuis l’Enfance (ELFE) cohort. A score of frequency of use (SU) for added sugar, salt, and fat (oil, margarine, butter, and/or cream) was calculated from the age at complementary feeding introduction (CFI) to the 10th month. Associations between the SU of each added ingredient with infant feeding and caregiving practices were studied with multivariable linear regressions adjusted for familial characteristics. Only 28% of the parents followed the recommendation of adding fat and simultaneously not adding sugar or salt. Breastfeeding mothers were more prone to add sugar, salt, and fat than non-breastfeeding mothers. CFI before four months was positively associated with the SU of added sugar and salt and negatively associated with the SU of added fat. The use of commercial baby food was negatively related to the SU of added salt and fat. The use of these added ingredients was mainly related to breastfeeding, age at CFI, and use of commercial food, and it was independent of the household socioeconomic characteristics.

BackgroundGrowth charts are an essential clinical tool for evaluating a child's health and development. The current French reference curves, published in 1979, have recently been challenged by the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts.ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the growth of French children who were born between 1981 and 2007, with the WHO growth charts and the French reference curves currently used.DesignAnthropometric measurements from French children, who participated in 12 studies, were analyzed: 82,151 measurements were available for 27,257 children in different age groups, from birth to 18 years. We calculated and graphically compared mean z-scores based on the WHO and French curves, for height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) according to age and sex. The prevalence of overweight using the WHO, the French and International Obesity Task Force definitions were compared.ResultsOur population of children was on average 0.5 standard deviations taller than the French reference population, from the first month of life until puberty age. Mean z-scores for height, weight and BMI were closer to zero based on the WHO growth charts than on the French references from infancy until late adolescence, except during the first six months. These differences not related to breastfeeding rates. As expected, the prevalence of overweight depended on the reference used, and differences varied according to age.ConclusionThe WHO growth charts may be appropriate for monitoring growth of French children, as the growth patterns in our large population of French children were closer to the WHO growth charts than to the French reference curves, from 6 months onwards. However, there were some limitations in the use of these WHO growth charts, and further investigation is needed.