[Retrospective study on weaning in Rome and its province. Results and critical considerations]. / Indagine retrospettiva sul divezzamento a Roma e provincia. Risultati e considerazioni critiche.

The authors report and comment on the results of an epidemiological retrospective study on weaning. The study was performed in Rome and its province through the administration of a structured interview to the parents of 851 children, aged between 6 months and 3 years. Data show that most children are correctly weaned, in terms of both timing and quality of foods. In some cases, however, incorrect dietary habits were found, such as: too early (usually together with too early administration of gluten-containing foods) or too late weaning, and use of cow's milk instead of follow-up formulae during the second semester of life. Data presented here show that the early weaning significantly correlates with a maternal low degree of education and short period of breast-feeding. On the basis of their data and according to the international literature, the authors present some new weaning suggestions: these could help decrease the present gap between recommended dietary allowances and real consumption in this age group.

[The evaluation of body composition in children by anthropometry and impedance measurement]. / Valutazione della composizione corporea nel bambino mediante antropometria ed impedenziometria.

Several anthropometric parameters (weight, height, thickness skinfolds, and body circumferences) together with the bioelectric impedance (BIA) were measured in a group of 407 healthy prepuberal children (205 males, mean age +/- SD: 6.8 +/- 1.6 years; 202 females, mean age +/- SD: 6.6 +/- 1.6 years) who did not practice any competitive sport. The group was divided into six weight classes (underweight to obese 3). The average values of the anthropometric data, BIA, FM (which is derived from the thickness skinfolds and BIA), TBW (derived from BIA), AFA and AMA (both derived from the forearm circumference and triceps skinfold) were all evaluated in relation to sex and weight classes. The average values of all the measured thickness skinfolds, FM and AFA were higher in the females. When considering the body circumferences, only the wrist circumference showed a statistically significant difference between sexes, being higher in males. In contrast both the rates waist/hips circumferences and waist/thigh circumferences were higher in males. As far as the BIA and FM average values is concerned, these were higher in females. The average value of FM derived from measuring the thickness skinfolds (males = 17.65 +/- 4.89%: females = 23.81 +/- 4.72% of body weight) proved higher than that one derived from BIA (males = 17 +/- 9.02%; females = 19.27 +/- 9.18%). The analysis of anthropometric and BIA data in relation to the weight classes showed significant variations of the mean values, except the rates waist/hips circumferences and waist/thigh circumferences. Therefore our data seem to exclude the presence of any difference of the fat distribution between sexes in paediatric age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)