Post-term birth is associated with greater risk of obesity in adolescent males

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Growth and Development
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Public Health Nutrition

Background:

• Post-term birth, defined as delivery after 42 weeks of gestation, is associated with potential health risks.
• Understanding the long-term effects of post-term birth on childhood growth is crucial for monitoring and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that post-term birth adversely affects longitudinal growth and weight gain throughout childhood.
• To determine if sex-specific differences exist in the long-term growth trajectories of post-term born children.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study followed 525 children from birth to 16 years.
• Weight and height were measured throughout childhood, and growth velocities were calculated using a mathematical model.

Main Results:

• Post-term boys exhibited significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and weight gain velocity from childhood into adolescence compared to term-born boys.
• Adolescent obesity rates were substantially higher in post-term born boys (29%) versus term-born boys (7%).
• No significant differences in BMI or growth were observed between post-term and term-born girls.

Conclusions:

• Post-term birth is linked to accelerated weight gain and a heightened risk of adolescent obesity specifically in boys.
• These findings highlight the importance of monitoring growth and weight in post-term born males for early obesity prevention strategies.