Dietary patterns during pregnancy have been shown to influence the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, evidence from Asian populations is limited and inconsistent. We conducted a prospective cohort study in China to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and GDM. We administered three-day food diaries (TFD) and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) at the second trimester. GDM was diagnosed with a 75 g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 weeks of gestation. We identified dietary patterns using principal components analysis and used multivariable logistic regression to investigate associations of dietary patterns with GDM. Of the 1014 participants, 23.5% were diagnosed with GDM. Both the TFD and FFQ identified a “traditional pattern”, consisting of high vegetable, fruit, and rice intake, which was associated with a lower GDM risk (odds ratio (OR) for quartile 4 versus quartile 1: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.23–0.71 for traditional pattern (TFD); OR: 0.44, CI: 0.27–0.70 for traditional pattern (FFQ)). The protective associations were more pronounced among women ≥35 years old. A whole grain–seafood TFD pattern was associated with higher risk of GDM (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.10–2.74). These findings may provide evidence for making dietary guidelines among pregnant women in Chinese populations to prevent GDM.

Studies to examine the associations of gestational weight gain (GWG) with offspring weight status during infancy are needed, especially among Asian populations. We examined 801 mother–infant pairs from a prospective cohort study in China to assess the associations of total and trimester-specific GWG with early infant weight status. We used linear mixed effects models and linear regression models to examine the longitudinal and time-point associations of GWG rate (kg/week) with infant growth measures (z-scores of body-mass-index (BMIZ), weight-for-age (WFAZ) and length-for-age (LFAZ)) at birth, 1, 3, and 6 months. Greater total GWG rate was associated with higher BMIZ (β:1.34 SD units (95% CI: 0.84, 1.83) per 1 kg/week increase in GWG) and higher WFAZ (β:1.18 SD units (95% CI: 1.01, 2.28)) across the first 6 months of life. GWG rate in the first two trimesters but not in the third trimester was positively associated with infant BMIZ. The association between GWG rate and infant BMIZ was significant at all timepoints and more pronounced in normal weight women and among male infants. In conclusion, greater GWG rate is positively associated with offspring BMIZ in the first 6 months of life, the association is mostly driven by GWG in the first two trimesters.

Television (TV) viewing may affect children’s obesity status. In the present study the association between TV viewing and early childhood overweight/obese status was investigated as well as the association based on age difference. The present study included 933 children 1–5 years of age that were individually matched on a 1:2 (cases: controls) ratio based on age and community. Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was used to evaluate the association between TV viewing time and the related unhealthy behaviors. Conditional logistic regression models were used to quantify the association between TV viewing and children overweight/obese status in two age groups. The effects of TV viewing-related behaviors on the associations were further investigated. TV viewing time > 1 h was positively associated with the prevalence of TV viewing-related unhealthy behaviors (P < 0.05). After controlling for these behaviors, the association between TV viewing and childhood overweight/obese status was significant among 4- to 5-year-old children (odds ratio, OR = 1.72, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.16––2.54), but not significant among 1- to 3-year-old children. Childhood overweight/obese status was positively associated with longer TV viewing time only among 4- to 5-year-old children. The results from the present study may help in identifying the population susceptible for overweight and obesity caused by TV viewing.

Changes in lifestyle and food environment have created a heavy burden of obesity and chronic disease in China. However, measurements of the food environment have been rarely reported in China or other countries with similar food cultures; this measurement shortage is partially due to the lack of valid and reliable measurement tools. The aim of the present study was to adapt and validate a Chinese version of the Nutritional Environment Measurement Survey for Stores (C-NEMS-S). Categories and items of the NEMS-S were culturally adapted to fit the Chinese population and included grains, dry beans, starchy tubers, vegetables, fruits, seafood, meat and poultry, dietary oils, milk, bread, instant noodles, and beverages. A scoring sheet for each food category was created to measure availability, quality, and pricing. Then, the C-NEMS-S was validated in 10 large-sized supermarkets and 10 convenience stores in Shenyang, China. Two trained raters performed their evaluations separately at the same store. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of the availability composite score was 0.98. All food measures had a moderate or good ICC (0.41 to 1.00). The kappa for each food measure ranged from 0.52 to 1.00. C-NEMS-S was able to show the difference in healthy food availability between large-sized supermarkets and convenience stores, as well as the price differences between healthier options and regular options. Large-sized supermarkets had a significantly higher total score (p < 0.001) and healthier option availability for all food measures (all items were statistically significant (p < 0.05), except sugar-free beverages). Healthier options cost more than regular options for grains, milk, bread, and instant noodles (from 4% to 153%). The adapted C-NEMS-S can be used to measure the consumer food environment in stores in China.

This systematic review summarizes eight studies involving 558 cesarean section (CS)-born infants (274 exposed to vaginal seeding (VS), 284 not exposed) and 261 infants born vaginally to investigate the effect of VS on gut microbiome colonization and development in CS-born infants. This study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Relevant articles published before March 6, 2024, were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included experimental studies that investigated changes in the gut microbiota of CS-born infants following VS and reported changes in the gut microbiota. The relationship between VS and the gut microbiota composition of CS-born infants was assessed. VS may selectively influence the abundance of bacterial genera from various phyla, such as an increased relative abundance of Bacteroides and Lactobacillus, in the gut microbiome of CS-seeded infants compared to CS-non-seeded infants. Conflicting results mainly concern microbial diversity. Current evidence indicates modest changes in the gut microbiome of CS-born infants following VS. However, further clinical studies are necessary to fully understand its impact on early-life health outcomes, particularly regarding potential microbiome alterations and associated health risks.

Background: The study aims to use the cross-lagged model and utilize data from the Born in Shenyang Cohort Study to characterize the bidirectional associations of the term-born infants’ neurodevelopment in five domains and physical growth in early life. Method: This study consists of 688 mother-child dyads from the Born in Shenyang Cohort Study. Infants’ anthropometric (weight and length) and development in neurological outcomes (Gesell Development Scale) were measured at the age of 6 and 12 months. Cross-lagged analyses and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the longitudinal relationships in both directions. Results: In terms of longitudinal studies, the inverse associations between infants’ two skills (gross motor and social behavior) at the age of 6 months with BMI Z -scores at the age of 12 months (gross motor: aβ = − 0.20, 95% CI: − 0.31 to- 0.09; social behavior: aβ = − 0.23, 95% CI: − 0.33 to- 0.13) were found. Conversely, a higher infant Z -scored BMI at the age of 6 months predicted a lower gross motor at the age of 12 months (aβ = − 0.08, 95% CI: − 0.12 to- 0.04). In cross-lagged analyses, an adverse association in both directions between gross motor and Z -scored BMI was observed. Conclusion: We found bidirectional relationships between infants’ neurodevelopment of gross motor with physical growth and suggested the term-born infants, who are on the edge of the developmental danger, should not be overlooked.