Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Small and large size for gestational age at birth, infant growth, and childhood overweight

Hendrik R Taal1, Albert J Vd Heijden, Eric A P Steegers

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|May 14, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Birth size impacts early childhood growth, with persistent differences in size until age 4. Specific growth patterns, like catch-up growth in appropriate weight for gestational age infants, increase overweight risk.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Childhood Obesity Risk Factors

Background:

  • Birth size, including weight for gestational age, is a key determinant of infant development.
  • Early childhood growth trajectories are influenced by prenatal and postnatal factors.
  • Understanding long-term growth patterns is crucial for identifying risks of later health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the associations between birth size and infant growth (head circumference, length, weight) up to age 4.
  • To investigate the relationship between catch-up/catch-down growth and preschool body composition (BMI, fat mass).
  • To identify specific growth patterns linked to increased risk of childhood overweight.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based prospective cohort study of 3,941 children.
  • Repeated measurements of head circumference, length, and weight until age 4.
  • Definition of catch-up/catch-down growth based on standard deviation score changes from birth to 2 years.

Main Results:

  • Most infants exhibited catch-up or catch-down growth, but mean size differences persisted until age 4.
  • Catch-up growth in small/appropriate weight for gestational age infants and lack of catch-down in large infants were linked to higher preschool BMI.
  • Appropriate weight for gestational age infants with catch-up growth and large infants without catch-down growth showed increased risks of childhood overweight.

Conclusions:

  • Birth size dictates distinct early childhood growth patterns with lasting size differences until age 4.
  • Specific growth trajectories, particularly catch-up growth in appropriate weight for gestational age infants, elevate the risk of childhood overweight.
  • Early growth monitoring is essential for identifying children at risk for later overweight.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable09:24

Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable

Published on: May 17, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Signs of Puberty01:27

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation02:36

Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation

Cell size is a significant factor impacting cellular design, function, and fitness. There exists some internal coordination by which cells double their masses before division, thus, achieving homeostasis. Coordination between cell growth and proliferation depends on the checkpoints in between cell cycle phases. Loss of coordination or failure in the checkpoint mechanism can drive the cell to uncontrolled growth and loss of cellular function. Like dividing cells that coordinate cellular growth,...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...