Ann Pediatr Res | Volume 4, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Aline Andres1,2*, Kindann Fawcett1,2, Patrick H Casey1,2, Thomas M Badger1 and Mario A Cleves1
1Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, USA
2Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA
*Correspondance to: Aline Andres
Fulltext PDFBackground: Although rapid weight gain during infancy has been associated with overweight and obese status in children and adults, no published studies have investigated the role of infant weight gain during infancy on later adiposity while controlling for dietary intake. Objectives: To determine the relationship between weight gain (g/kg/d at 3 months intervals) and energy intake during infancy and childhood adiposity at 5 years of age.
Methods: A cohort of healthy term infants was prospectively followed from 3 to 60 months of age (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00616395). Anthropometrics, body composition (nuclear magnetic resonance [Echo-MRI AH]), and dietary intake (3 day food records) were assessed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months.
Participants/Setting: Formula-fed infants (n=152) from the central Arkansas region in the United States were recruited between 2002 and 2011.
Main outcome measures: BMI-for-age Z-score, body fat (%) and energy intake (kcal). Statistical analyses performed: Linear and logistic regression models were used while adjusting for maternal Body Mass Index (BMI), gestational age, sex, birth weight, birth length, and energy intake.
Results: Higher weight gain (g/kg/d) between 3 and 12 months of age was significantly associated with higher BMI for age Z score (BMIZ) and higher percent body fat at 5 years of age after controlling for infant sex, gestational age, birth length, birth weight, maternal BMI and energy intake. Infants who had a BMIZ >1 at 6, 9 and 12 months had greater probabilities to have a BMIZ >1 at age 5 years (adjusted odds ratio =1.9 [95% CI: 1.1 to 3.0], 2.9 [95% CI: 1.6 to 5.2] and 3.4 [95% CI: 1.8 to 6.1],
respectively, P<0.02) after adjusting for the covariates. Energy intake was significantly greater by 64 kcal/d on average between birth and 12 months of age for children who were overweight at 5 years compared to their counterparts (P<0.03).
Conclusion: Higher weight gain (g/kg/d) during infancy was associated with higher BMIZ and percent body fat at 5 years of age after adjusting for important covariates such as maternal BMI and energy intake. To prevent high BMIZ later in life, infants with high weight gain and their family may benefit from early lifestyle interventions on adequate intake and feeding cues.
Infant, Growth, Obesity, Infant formula
Andres A, Fawcett K, Casey PH, Badger TM, Cleves MA. Risk of Being Overweight at 5 Years of Age is Associated with Weight Gain and Energy Intake during Infancy in Formula-Fed Children. Ann Pediatr Res. 2020;4(1):1029..