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Associations of birthweight and infant growth with body composition at age 15--the COMPASS study

Marit Eriksson1, Per Tynelius, Finn Rasmussen

  • 1Child and Adolescent Public Health Epidemiology Group, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. marit.eriksson@ki.se

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|June 27, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Birthweight and infant weight gain are linked to adolescent body composition. Rapid weight gain in the first year has a stronger impact than birth size on later body fat and muscle mass.

Area of Science:

  • Human Growth and Development
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Birth size and early growth influence adult obesity risk.
  • Limited research exists on postnatal growth's impact on adolescent body composition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate associations between birthweight, infant weight gain, and adolescent body composition.
  • To examine relationships with height, weight, BMI, fat-free mass index (FFMI), fat mass index, % fat mass, and waist circumference.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based COMPASS study in Stockholm County, Sweden.
  • Utilized birth and childhood weight records from registers and health centers.
  • Measured adolescent body composition at age 15 using bioelectric impedance in 2453 participants.

Main Results:

  • Birthweight positively correlated with most body composition measures, except % fat mass in girls.
  • Higher infant weight gain strongly associated with all body composition metrics.
  • Infant weight gain showed a more significant effect than birthweight on adolescent body composition.

Conclusions:

  • Both birthweight and early postnatal growth are significant predictors of adolescent body composition.
  • Infancy emerges as a critical period for development, with weight gain during this stage having a pronounced effect.

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