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Relationship between growth and feeding in infancy and body mass index at the age of 6 years

I Gunnarsdottir1, I Thorsdottir

  • 1Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali-University Hospital & Department of Food Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. ingigun@landspitali.is

International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders : Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|November 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Rapid infant growth and high protein intake in boys are linked to higher body mass index (BMI) at age six. These factors may contribute to childhood obesity, highlighting early life influences.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Childhood Obesity Research
  • Growth and Development Studies

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
  • Early life factors significantly influence long-term health outcomes.
  • Understanding infant growth patterns is crucial for predicting later obesity risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infant size and growth metrics and body mass index (BMI) at six years of age.
  • To identify potential nutritional contributors to childhood obesity during infancy.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal observational study followed 90 healthy, full-term infants from birth to six years.
  • Infant weight and height were measured periodically, with monthly food records analyzed for nutrient intake.
  • Body mass index (BMI) at age six was the primary outcome measure.

Main Results:

  • Greater weight gain from birth to 12 months correlated positively with BMI at age six in both boys and girls.
  • Boys with higher protein intake between 9-12 months exhibited significantly higher BMI at age six.
  • Combined, infant weight gain and protein intake explained 50% of BMI variance in six-year-old boys.

Conclusions:

  • Rapid infant growth in the first year is associated with increased BMI at age six.
  • High protein intake during infancy may be an additional risk factor for childhood obesity in boys.
  • Early life growth and nutrition play a critical role in the development of childhood obesity.
Abstract

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