Age at Introduction of Solid Food and Obesity Throughout the Life Course

This study aimed to examine the association between age at solid food (SF) introduction and obesity throughout the life course.

Among 31,816 mother- nurse daughter dyads in the Nurses' Mothers' Cohort Study and the Nurses' Health Study II, information was collected on age at SF introduction, body somatotype at ages 5 and 10, and Body Mass Index at age 18 and in adulthood. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for obesity throughout life were estimated using logistic regression models with adjustment for parental and nurse daughter covariates.

Nurse daughters introduced to SF at ≥ 9 months versus 6 to 9 months had marginally higher age-adjusted (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.47) and covariate-adjusted (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.47) odds of obesity at age 5. Age at SF introduction was not related to obesity at ages 10 and 18 or in adulthood.

Late age at SF introduction was marginally associated with obesity at age 5, but this association did not persist throughout the life course.