[Impact of attend to day care associated with healthy weight in infants and preschoolers].

Background: Being overweight affects millions of infants and preschoolers in the world, affecting their quality and life expectancy. Exposure to day care centers may play an important role in preventing unhealthy weight (UW).

Objective: To point out the prevalence and association of day care exposure and other factors associated with UW in infants and preschoolers.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out. Infant population aged 6-47 months without comorbidities that compromised their nutritional status were included, and those with formal childcare different from the selected day care were excluded. Exposure to day care, and other factors (perinatal, physical activity, nutritional, and familiar) were evaluated. A z score > 1 SD was considered UW. Prevalence, odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) and adjusted RM by low birth weight, initiation of complementary feeding, consumption of sugary drinks, daytime naps, maternal nutritional status, and family income quintile through logistic regression.

Results: The overall prevalence of UW was 17.84% (95%CI: 14.93-21.16), 11.84 (95%CI: 8.54-16.14) for children exposed to day care, and 23.78% (95%CI: 19.21-29.02) in unexposed infant population, showing significant differences between both prevalences (p < 0.001). The adjusted OR for UW presentation was 0.39 (95% CI: 0.23-0.66).

Conclusions: Exposure to IMSS day care has shown to be a possible protective environment against the development of a UW.