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Maternal Stress and Excessive Weight Gain in Infancy
Katelyn Fox1, Maya Vadiveloo1, Karen McCurdy2
1Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
Summary
Maternal perceived stress did not impact infant weight gain or rapid weight gain risk in this study. Rapid infant weight gain was common, particularly in Black infants, highlighting the need for further research into risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Rapid infant weight gain is a risk factor for early-onset obesity and contributes to childhood obesity disparities.
- Maternal perceived stress is linked to childhood obesity, but its effect on infant weight gain is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of maternal perceived stress on infant weight-for-length (WFL) z-score changes.
- To examine the association between maternal perceived stress and the risk of rapid infant weight gain.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of the longitudinal Nurture birth cohort (n=666), predominantly non-Hispanic/Latinx Black mothers.
- Maternal perceived stress assessed using Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum.
- Mixed-effects models and log-binomial models analyzed WFL z-score changes and rapid weight gain risk (change in WFL z-score > 0.67 SD).
Main Results:
- Infant WFL z-scores significantly increased over the first year.
- No significant association was found between maternal perceived stress and changes in WFL z-scores.
- Maternal perceived stress did not influence the risk of rapid infant weight gain.
Conclusions:
- Rapid infant weight gain was prevalent in this cohort of predominantly Black infants in the Southeastern US.
- Maternal perceived stress was not found to be a significant predictor of rapid infant weight gain.
- Further research is needed to identify infant weight gain risk factors and the role of maternal stress in childhood obesity prevention.
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