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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Relationship between prenatal growth, postnatal growth and childhood obesity: a review

E K Matthews1, J Wei2, S A Cunningham3

  • 1Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|March 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Rapid postnatal growth increases childhood obesity risks for all birthweights. Prenatal growth patterns also influence these risks, particularly for infants born small. Further research is needed on combined growth effects.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Obesity risks are established early in life.
  • Understanding early growth patterns is crucial for preventing childhood obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review evidence on the relationship between prenatal growth, rapid postnatal growth, and childhood obesity risk.
  • To determine if rapid postnatal growth has differential implications for obesity risk based on prenatal growth patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic database searches of PubMed and Embase conducted in October 2014.
  • Inclusion of 18 studies assessing prenatal and postnatal growth implications for childhood obesity.
  • Analysis of interaction effects between prenatal and postnatal growth on obesity risk.

Main Results:

  • Increased birthweight and rapid postnatal growth are associated with higher obesity risks across childhood.
  • Rapid postnatal growth showed a linear association with obesity in children of all birth sizes in most studies.
  • Some studies indicated an amplified obesity risk for small-for-gestational-age infants experiencing rapid postnatal growth.

Conclusions:

  • Both prenatal and postnatal growth are significant risk factors for developing childhood obesity.
  • The combined effects of prenatal and postnatal growth warrant further investigation to elucidate early obesity development.
  • Targeted interventions considering both growth phases may be necessary for obesity prevention.

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