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Comparison of High and Normal Birth Weight Infants on Eating, Feeding Practices, and Subsequent Weight

Cathleen Odar Stough1, Christopher Bolling2, Cynthia Zion3

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, 4150P Edwards One, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA. Cathleen.Stough@uc.edu.

Maternal and Child Health Journal
|July 16, 2018
PubMed

Insights

High birth weight infants face higher obesity risk. Infants with high birth weight maintaining excess weight show differences in feeding interactions and weight gain compared to peers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Obesity Research
  • Infant Growth and Development
  • Maternal and Child Health

Background:

  • High birth weight (HBW) infants (≥4000 g) are recognized as having an increased risk for developing obesity.
  • The specific mechanisms driving this increased risk and identification of at-risk subsets within HBW infants remain under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential mechanisms linking high birth weight to later obesity risk by examining infant eating behaviors and maternal feeding practices.
  • To identify if specific subgroups of HBW infants exhibit distinct characteristics related to weight gain and feeding behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • An exploratory study comparing 21 HBW infants with 20 normal birth weight (NBW) infants (2500-3999 g) at 7-8 months of age.
  • Utilized maternal-report questionnaires for eating behaviors and feeding practices, alongside a bottle-feeding observational task for a subset of infants.

Main Results:

  • HBW infants demonstrated a statistically significant increased risk for high weight-for-length at 7-8 months compared to NBW infants.
  • No significant differences were found in daily weight gain, general eating behaviors, or most maternal feeding practices between HBW and NBW groups.
  • HBW infants with high weight-for-length (≥85th percentile) exhibited higher birth weights, greater daily weight gain, and lower maternal-reported satiety responsiveness and social interaction during feedings compared to HBW infants below the 85th percentile.

Conclusions:

  • While HBW infants as a group do not differ significantly from NBW infants in basic eating behaviors or feeding practices, those who maintain excess weight during infancy do present distinct characteristics.
  • These differences in feeding interactions and weight gain highlight a potential pathway for increased obesity risk in a subset of HBW infants.
  • Further research is warranted to identify longitudinal risk factors and develop targeted early screening and intervention strategies for at-risk HBW infants.

Keywords:
AppetiteFeeding practicesHigh birth weightInfant feeding behavior

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