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Early nutrition and later adiposity.

R Martorell1, A D Stein, D G Schroeder

  • 1The Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Department of International Health, 1518 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rmart77@aph.emory.edu

The Journal of Nutrition
|March 10, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Early life nutrition

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Area of Science:

  • Nutritional science
  • Pediatrics
  • Public health

Background:

  • Maternal and early childhood nutrition significantly influence long-term health outcomes.
  • Understanding the impact of early nutrition on adult adiposity is crucial for public health interventions.
  • Existing evidence on early life nutrition and adult fatness requires comprehensive review.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the scientific literature on whether nutrition during pregnancy and the first three years of life predisposes individuals to adult fatness.
  • To evaluate the roles of undernutrition, overnutrition, and breastfeeding in adult obesity development.
  • To synthesize the evidence on the impact of early life nutrition on long-term adiposity.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of existing studies on early life nutrition and adult obesity.
  • Consideration of undernutrition, overnutrition (e.g., high birthweight, gestational diabetes), and breastfeeding.
  • Analysis of evidence from developed countries regarding nutritional impacts on fatness.

Main Results:

  • The evidence linking undernutrition in early life to increased adult fatness is inconclusive.
  • Overnutrition during pregnancy, indicated by high birthweight or gestational diabetes, is associated with subsequent increased fatness.
  • Breastfeeding shows a protective effect against adult fatness in large studies.
  • Early life nutrition has a small but measurable impact on adult obesity.

Conclusions:

  • While the impact is small, early life nutrition demonstrably influences adult obesity risk.
  • Maternal and infant nutrition, including breastfeeding, are critical factors in preventing long-term adiposity.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the role of undernutrition, but overnutrition and breastfeeding have clear associations with adult fatness.

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