Decelerated early growth in infants of overweight and obese mothers

To investigate the relationship between maternal prepregnancy body mass index and early infant growth and body composition.

Prospective cohort study performed at a university hospital/surrounding community. Ninety-seven nondiabetic mothers with singleton, term, healthy infants completed study visits at 2 weeks and 3 months of age. Before pregnancy, 59 mothers were normal weight, 18 were overweight, and 20 were obese. Infant anthropometrics and body composition via air-displacement plethysmography were measured. Infant feeding information and maternal prepregnancy weight were self-reported. Additional data were obtained via self-report and the medical record. Main outcome measures were change in weight, length, fat-free mass, and fat mass from 2 weeks to 3 months of age. Analysis was done via multivariate linear regression.

At 2 weeks, anthropometrics and body composition did not differ across maternal body mass index groups. At 3 months, infants of overweight or obese mothers had gained less weight (P = .02), grew less in length (P = .01), and gained less fat mass (P = .01). Adjustment for breastfeeding status and regression to the mean via conditional change variables did not alter the results. The results were not altered after adjusting for maternal glucose values from a 50-g glucose challenge and for maternal smoking in a subset including 80% of the women.

Maternal overweight/obesity is associated with early deceleration in linear growth and adipose tissue accrual; replication of these findings is needed.