Excess early postnatal weight gain leads to increased abdominal fat in young children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Childhood Obesity Research
• Growth and Development Studies

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing concern with established links to later adiposity.
• The specific role of early postnatal weight gain in the development of childhood abdominal fat remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between early postnatal weight gain and adiposity at five years of age.
• To determine if rapid early weight gain influences subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat accumulation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER) cohort.
• Assessed weight and length gain rates from birth to 3 months, calculating Z-scores for weight for length gain (WLG).
• Measured intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat via ultrasonography in 316 five-year-olds, employing multiple imputation for missing data.

Main Results:

• A higher Z-score for WLG from birth to 3 months correlated with significantly increased BMI (0.51 kg/m²), waist circumference (0.84 cm), and subcutaneous fat (0.50 mm).
• A trend towards increased intra-abdominal fat was observed with higher early WLG (0.51 mm/SD).
• No interaction was found between early WLG and birth size concerning 5-year adiposity.

Conclusions:

• Excessive early postnatal weight gain is associated with greater general and central adiposity at age five.
• This includes increased subcutaneous fat and a likely increase in intra-abdominal fat.
• Early rapid growth patterns are critical indicators for future adiposity risk.