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Systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors for childhood overweight identifiable during infancy

Stephen Franklin Weng1, Sarah A Redsell, Judy A Swift

  • 1Division of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Nottingham, UK.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|October 31, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight, high birth weight, and rapid infant weight gain are key childhood overweight risk factors identifiable in the first year. Breastfeeding may reduce risk, while maternal smoking during pregnancy increases it.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood overweight is a growing public health concern with long-term health implications.
  • Identifying early risk factors is crucial for timely intervention and prevention strategies.
  • Infancy presents a critical window for establishing health trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for childhood overweight detectable within the first year of life.
  • To inform early identification and targeted interventions for preventing childhood obesity.
  • To synthesize evidence from prospective studies on infant risk factors for overweight.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies.
  • Comprehensive electronic database searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CAB Abstracts).
  • Inclusion criteria: studies following children from birth for at least two years.

Main Results:

  • Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight, high infant birth weight, and rapid infant weight gain were strongly associated with childhood overweight.
  • Breastfeeding showed a 15% reduced odds of childhood overweight; maternal smoking during pregnancy increased odds by 47%.
  • Early introduction of solids suggested a link; evidence was conflicting for breastfeeding duration, socioeconomic status, and parity.

Conclusions:

  • Key risk factors for childhood overweight are identifiable during infancy.
  • Healthcare professionals should focus on identifying infants at high risk for overweight.
  • Further research is needed to assess the clinical feasibility of early risk identification.
Abstract

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