Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

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

Body composition in infancy: impact on health later in life

Kenneth J Ellis1

  • 1Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.

Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series. Paediatric Programme
|February 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Birthweight and infant weight gain impact later health risks. This study questions if body mass index accurately reflects infant body composition, a key assumption in current health research.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Retrospective studies link birthweight and infant weight gain to adult health risks.
  • These associations support fetal origins and catch-up growth hypotheses for diseases.
  • Previous research relied on anthropometric indices like body mass index (BMI) due to limited measurement options.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate what body mass index (BMI) truly represents regarding infant body composition.
  • To determine if BMI is an adequate measure of body composition in infancy.
  • To critically evaluate the assumptions underlying fetal origins and catch-up growth hypotheses.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on infant body composition measurement techniques.
  • Analysis of anthropometric data in relation to direct body composition measures in infants.
  • Comparison of body mass index (BMI) with advanced in vivo body composition assessment methods.

Main Results:

  • Body mass index (BMI) in infancy may not accurately reflect lean mass versus fat mass.
  • Direct body composition measures provide a more nuanced understanding than BMI alone.
  • The validity of using BMI as a proxy for body composition in infants is questionable.

Conclusions:

  • Current reliance on body mass index (BMI) for infant assessment may be inadequate.
  • Further research using direct body composition methods is needed to validate health outcome associations.
  • Revisiting the fetal origins and catch-up growth hypotheses with accurate infant body composition data is crucial.

More Related Videos

Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging06:48

Clinical Anthropometrics and Body Composition from 3-Dimensional Optical Imaging

Published on: June 7, 2024

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Signs of Puberty01:27

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Bone Disorders01:29

Bone Disorders

Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...