Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Adiposity rebound in very-low-birth-weight infants
Koryo Nakayama1, Go Ichikawa1, Junko Naganuma1
1Department of Pediatrics, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuga, Tochigi, Japan.
Insights
Early adiposity rebound (AR) in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) is linked to higher BMI percentiles by age seven. This finding suggests early AR predicts future obesity in VLBWIs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adiposity rebound (AR), an increase in BMI after a nadir, is a critical developmental marker.
- Early AR (before age five) is a known risk factor for childhood obesity and metabolic syndrome.
- The prevalence and implications of early AR in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence and impact of early adiposity rebound in VLBWIs.
- To determine if early AR in VLBWIs predicts later obesity risk.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for VLBWIs born between 2008-2010.
- Tracking height and weight from birth to seven years to determine AR age and BMI percentile.
- Comparing BMI percentiles at age seven and BMI changes between early AR (<5 years) and normal AR (≥5 years) groups using ANOVA.
Main Results:
- The study identified 38 early AR cases and 62 normal AR cases among VLBWIs, with a prevalence similar to normal birth weight infants.
- VLBWIs with early AR exhibited significantly higher BMI percentiles at age seven compared to those with normal AR (44.6 vs. 14.4).
- Analysis of variance confirmed significantly greater BMI changes in the early AR group (p=0.024).
Conclusions:
- Early adiposity rebound in very-low-birth-weight infants is a significant predictor of future obesity.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring AR in VLBWIs for early identification of obesity risk.
Objectives:
Adiposity rebound (AR) refers to an increase in body mass index (BMI) after a nadir. Early AR, in which AR occurs earlier than five years old, is a risk factor for future obesity and metabolic syndrome, but has not been widely studied in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs).
Methods:
The subjects were VLBWIs born in Dokkyo Medical University NICU from January 2008 to December 2010. Height and weight measured at birth and at intervals until seven years old were obtained from medical records. The lowest BMI after one year of age was used for the age of AR. The subjects were divided into those with early and normal AR (<5 and ≥5 years old). BMI percentile at age seven years was compared using the interquartile range (IQR). Changes in BMI were evaluated by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results:
There were 38 early AR cases and 62 normal AR cases, giving a prevalence of early AR similar to that in infants with normal birth weight. BMI percentile at age seven years was significantly higher in early AR cases than in normal AR cases (44.6 [IQR: 21.0-79.2] vs. 14.4 [IQR: 3.8-40.8] kg/m2). Changes in BMI were also significantly higher in early AR cases (p=0.024 by ANOVA).
Conclusions:
Early AR in VLBWIs is a predictor of future obesity.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
01:25Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
01:27Signs of Puberty