This study examines how dietary patterns at ages 2 and 8 impact cardiometabolic health at age 8, using data from the European Childhood Obesity Project (EU CHOP). Researchers analyzed 336 children from five European countries to assess dietary influences on BMI, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.
Key findings:
48% of children at age 2 and 66% at age 8 followed a "Poor-Quality Dietary Pattern" (PQ-DP), characterized by high sugar and low fiber intake.
Children who followed a PQ-DP at both ages had higher triglycerides, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) at age 8.
A "Health-Conscious Dietary Pattern" (HC-DP) was associated with better cardiometabolic health outcomes.
Findings support early-life dietary interventions to reduce long-term metabolic disease risks.
The study highlights the long-term importance of childhood nutrition, emphasizing the need for healthier dietary habits from an early age.
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