Weight gain in the first week of life predicts overweight at 2 years: A prospective cohort study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Growth and Development
• Public Health

Background:

• Rapid infant weight gain in the first week of life is a known predictor of later obesity in formula-fed infants.
• Understanding early growth patterns is crucial for identifying risks of pediatric overweight.
• Feeding practices significantly influence infant growth and long-term health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between first-week weight gain and overweight at age 2 in diverse infant feeding practices.
• To explore the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding in early infancy and the risk of overweight at age 2.
• To identify factors associated with overweight risk in early childhood.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 450 mother-infant pairs, with 306 infants followed to age 2.
• Collected data on infant weight change during the first week and feeding practices in the first month.
• Assessed anthropometric measurements, including body mass index (BMI) for overweight classification (≥85th percentile), at age 2.

Main Results:

• 19% of children were overweight at age 2.
• Infants gaining >100g in the first week were 2.3 times more likely to be overweight at age 2 (p=0.02).
• Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, infant birth weight, maternal education, and WIC status were associated with overweight risk. Exclusive breastfeeding was linked to lower likelihood of gaining ≥100g in the first week.

Conclusions:

• Early infant weight gain in the first week is a significant predictor of overweight at age 2.
• Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with reduced rapid early weight gain, potentially lowering future overweight risk.
• Interventions targeting early infant growth patterns may be beneficial for preventing childhood obesity.