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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Early childhood predictors of adult body composition

Céline Druet1, Ken K Ong

  • 1MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Box 285, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. cd403@medschl.ca.ac.uk

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
|June 10, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Early life growth, including fetal development and early childhood nutrition, significantly influences adult obesity risk. Genetic factors also play a role in rapid growth and obesity development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Pediatric nutrition
  • Obesity research

Background:

  • Intra-uterine development and early childhood growth are critical periods for obesity risk.
  • Fetal growth, indicated by birth weight, may program lean body mass.
  • Small for gestational age infants show a predisposition to fat accumulation, especially intra-abdominal fat.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the critical periods influencing obesity risk.
  • To explore the roles of prenatal growth restraint and postnatal catch-up growth in fat accumulation.
  • To examine the contribution of genetic factors to growth and obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of fetal growth markers (e.g., birth weight).
  • Assessment of postnatal growth patterns.
  • Investigation of genetic and heritable factors.

Main Results:

  • Fetal growth may program lean body mass.
  • Small for gestational age infants are prone to increased fat mass.
  • Genetic factors influence rapid postnatal growth and obesity risk.

Conclusions:

  • Early life growth, encompassing prenatal and postnatal periods, is crucial for long-term obesity risk.
  • The interplay between antenatal growth restraint, postnatal catch-up growth, and genetic factors requires further investigation.
  • Future research should focus on the timing and interaction of these factors in obesity development.

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