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Catch up growth in low birth weight infants: striking a healthy balance

Vandana Jain1, Atul Singhal

  • 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. drvandanajain@gmail.com

Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders
|March 15, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Catch-up growth in infants born small for gestational age may increase later health risks. Balancing rapid growth with long-term health is crucial for Indian infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Catch-up growth is common in infants born small for gestational age (SGA) and traditionally viewed positively.
  • Emerging evidence links rapid catch-up growth to increased risks of obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease later in life.
  • India faces high rates of low birth weight (LBW) and infectious diseases, leading to policies promoting rapid infant growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the benefits and risks of catch-up growth in Indian infants.
  • To discuss the implications of rapid infant growth in the context of India's socio-economic transition and rising non-communicable diseases.
  • To highlight the need for a balanced approach to infant growth in India.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on infant growth, catch-up growth, and long-term health outcomes.
  • Analysis of the Indian context, including LBW rates, public health policies, and the changing obesogenic environment.
  • Discussion of the trade-offs between short-term growth benefits and potential long-term metabolic and cardiovascular risks.

Main Results:

  • Rapid catch-up growth, while addressing initial deficits, is associated with adverse long-term programming effects on body composition and metabolism.
  • India's current policies promoting rapid infant growth may conflict with the need to mitigate risks of obesity and type 2 diabetes in a transitioning environment.
  • The optimal growth trajectory for Indian infants, particularly those born LBW, remains uncertain, necessitating a nuanced approach.

Conclusions:

  • A critical balance is needed between promoting catch-up growth and preventing later-life metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in Indian infants.
  • Future policies should consider the long-term consequences of rapid infant weight gain in India's evolving socio-economic landscape.
  • Further research is needed to define optimal growth patterns for Indian infants to ensure healthy development and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.

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