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Updated: Jun 14, 2025

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Biopsychosocial predictors of rapid weight gain from birth to 6 months

Esther M Leerkes1, Cheryl Buehler1, Laurie Wideman2

  • 1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, UNC Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.

Pediatric Obesity
|August 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Obesogenic feeding practices in early infancy significantly predict rapid weight gain in babies. Identifying and supporting families to reduce these behaviors is key to preventing childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
  • Predictors of obesity risk in infancy require further identification.
  • Understanding early life factors is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a biopsychosocial model predicting rapid weight gain (RWG) in the first six months of life.
  • To identify key factors contributing to infant RWG.
  • To explore the role of maternal and infant characteristics in early obesity development.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 299 pregnant women and their infants.
  • Assessed maternal prenatal psychobiological risk (PPBR) including biomarkers and stress.
  • Measured infant stress reactivity and maternal feeding practices and sensitivity at 2 and 6 months.

Main Results:

  • Obesogenic feeding practices significantly predicted increased likelihood of RWG (β=0.30, p=0.01).
  • Obesogenic feeding practices acted as an intervening mechanism, mediating the effect of PPBR on RWG (b=0.05, SE=0.04).
  • This finding highlights the critical role of feeding behaviors in early infant weight gain.

Conclusions:

  • Early identification of tendencies towards obesogenic feeding practices is vital.
  • Interventions aimed at reducing obesogenic feeding behaviors can enhance childhood obesity prevention.
  • Targeting feeding practices offers a promising avenue for early obesity prevention efforts.
Abstract

Keywords:
childhood obesityfeeding practicesinfant stress reactivitymaternal sensitivityprenatal stressrapid weight gain

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