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Early-life predictors of higher body mass index in healthy children

Molly M Lamb1, Dana Dabelea, Xiang Yin

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, 80045, USA.

Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism
|November 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Early life factors like shorter breastfeeding and rapid infant weight gain are linked to higher childhood body mass index (BMI). Understanding these connections can help prevent childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing concern, tracking into adulthood and increasing risks for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
  • Identifying early life factors influencing childhood body mass index (BMI) is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal relationships between early life factors and the development of childhood obesity.
  • To define pathways linking prenatal and infant exposures to childhood body mass index (BMI).

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal data from 1,178 children in the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY) were analyzed.
  • Data included birth size, in utero diabetes exposure, infant feeding practices, infant weight gain, and childhood BMI measurements.

Main Results:

  • Male gender, in utero diabetes exposure, larger size for gestational age, shorter breastfeeding duration, and faster infant weight gain predicted higher childhood BMI.
  • Mediation analysis indicated that rapid infant weight gain partially explains the association between shorter breastfeeding and higher BMI.
  • Larger size for gestational age partially mediated the effect of in utero diabetes exposure on childhood BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Significant interrelationships exist between various early life factors and childhood BMI.
  • Understanding these pathways is essential for developing targeted interventions to prevent childhood obesity.
Abstract

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