Despite evidence that both rapid weight gain and excessive body fat accrual are associated with overweight and obesity, usual neonatal care of preterm infants does not include assessment of body fat accrual. The study hypothesis is that identification of early changes in infant body composition (i.e. amount of fat mass and fat-free mass) reduces % body fat at 3 months of age.
Infants in the intervention group will have the information about infant body composition known to the clinicians caring for them (including reference data). Infants in the control group will also undergo serial measurements of infant body composition, but this information will not be available to the clinicians. If parent agrees, stool "dirty" diapers will be collected 2 times (at the time of hospital discharge and at 3 months of corrected age).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
Serial assessments of infant body composition with air displacement plethysmography in very preterm infants will occur in the first 14 days after birth (baseline measure), at 32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), and at 36 weeks PMA or hospital discharge (whichever occurs first)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Infant Body Composition
Percent body fat estimated by air displacement plethysmography
Time frame: Assessed at 3 months of corrected age
Growth
Weekly weight gain in grams
Time frame: Birth to 3 months of corrected age
Length
Length in cm at 3 months of corrected age
Time frame: 3 months of corrected age
Head Circumference
Head circumference in cm at 3 months of corrected age
Time frame: 3 months of corrected age
Body Mass Index
Weight and height at 3 months of corrected age combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2
Time frame: 3 months of corrected age
Infant Body Composition
Percent body fat estimated by air displacement plethysmography
Time frame: Assessed at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age or hospital discharge (whichever occurs first)
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