Body Composition Changes and Associations in Infants and Mothers During the First Year: Insights from a Pilot Study
Manoja P Herath1, Kiran D K Ahuja1, Jeffrey M Beckett1
1School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7248, Australia.
Insights
Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI impacts infant body composition. Infants born to overweight mothers have higher fat mass, highlighting the importance of preconception health for long-term child well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Maternal Health
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Postpartum period involves significant maternal physiological changes and infant growth.
- Understanding infant and maternal body composition dynamics is crucial for child health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes and associations in infant and maternal body composition during the first year postpartum.
- To examine the influence of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) on infant body composition.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study using air displacement plethysmography (PEA POD, BOD POD) and deuterium dilution for body composition.
- Maternal body composition assessed at 12 months postpartum.
- Mothers categorized by pre-pregnancy BMI (<25 kg/m² lean; ≥25 kg/m² overweight/obese).
Main Results:
- Infant percent fat mass (%FM) increased from birth to 6 months, then declined.
- Infants of overweight/obese mothers had higher %FM at birth and 3 months.
- Maternal %FM at 1 year postpartum positively associated with infant %FM, controlling for maternal pre-pregnancy BMI.
Conclusions:
- Infants born to overweight/obese mothers exhibit higher %FM early in life, potentially impacting future health.
- Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI predicts postpartum weight and body composition, influencing maternal-infant body composition links.
- Maintaining a healthy BMI before conception is recommended; further research is warranted.
Background:
The period following childbirth is marked by dynamic changes in maternal physiology and the growth trajectory of the newborn. We aimed to elucidate the changes and associations in body composition of infants and their mothers during the first year postpartum.
Methods:
This pilot study assessed infant body composition using the PEA POD air displacement plethysmography (ADP) system (birth-6 months) and deuterium dilution (9-12 months). Maternal body composition was assessed using the BOD POD ADP system at 12 months postpartum. Mothers were grouped by prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2 (lean) or ≥25 kg/m2 (overweight/obese: OW/OB), and data were analysed using linear regression.
Results:
Twenty-nine infant-mother pairs were assessed. Infant percent fat mass (%FM) increased from birth to 6 months (9.3% vs. 24.2%; p < 0.001) and then gradually declined. At birth and 3 months, %FM was significantly higher in infants born to OW/OB mothers compared to their lean counterparts. A significant positive association (β = 0.3; p = 0.040) was observed between maternal %FM and infant %FM at 1 year post-delivery after controlling for the mother's prepregnancy BMI.
Conclusions:
Infants born to OW/OB mothers have increased %FM at birth and 3 months, which may have consequences for their health throughout childhood and into adulthood. Moreover, maternal prepregnancy BMI is a significant predictor of maternal postpartum weight status and body composition and impacts the relationship between maternal and infant body composition at 12 months postpartum. While the findings of our pilot study underscore the importance of encouraging women of childbearing age to maintain a healthy BMI before conception, further research is needed to substantiate these results.
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