HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chomtho, S. Articles by Fewtrell, M. S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chomtho, S. Articles by Fewtrell, M. S Agricola Articles by Chomtho, S. Articles by Fewtrell, M. S

Infant growth and later body composition: evidence from the 4-component model^1,2,3

¹ From The Medical Research Council, Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom (SC, JCKW, JEW, AL, and MSF), and the Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Children's Nutrition Research Centre, University of Queensland, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia (PSWD)

Background: Rapid weight gain in infancy is associated with higher body mass index in later life, but its relation with individual body-composition components remains unclear.

Objective: We aimed to investigate associations between weight gain during different periods in infancy and later fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM).

Design: Body composition was assessed by using the 4-component model, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and anthropometry in 234 healthy UK children and adolescents (105 boys; x ± SD age: 11.4 ± 3.8 y). Early growth measurements were prospective in 52 subjects and retrospective in 182. Relative weight gain was calculated as change in SD score (SDS) during different periods.

Results: Relative weight gain from 0 to 3 mo and from 3 to 6 mo showed positive relations with childhood FM, waist circumference, and trunk FM that were equivalent to increases in FMI (FM/height²) of 0.24 SDS (95% CI: 0.04, 0.44) and 0.50 SDS (0.25, 0.75) per 1-SDS increase in early weight and that were comparable to the effect of current obesity risk factors. Relative weight gain from 0 to 3 mo was also positively associated with later FFMI (FFM/height²). Relative weight gain from 6 to 12 mo was not associated with later body composition. Associations were independent of birth weight, sex, puberty, physical activity, socioeconomic class, ethnicity, and parental body mass index.

Conclusions: In this Western population, greater relative weight gain during early infancy was positively associated with later FM and central fat distribution and with FFM. Rapid weight gain in infancy may be a risk factor for later adiposity. Early infancy may provide an opportunity for interventions aimed at reducing later obesity risk.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. W. J. Leunissen, G. F. Kerkhof, T. Stijnen, and A. Hokken-Koelega Timing and Tempo of First-Year Rapid Growth in Relation to Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risk Profile in Early Adulthood JAMA, June 3, 2009; 301(21): 2234 - 2242. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Koletzko, R. von Kries, R. C. Monasterolo, J. E. Subias, S. Scaglioni, M. Giovannini, J. Beyer, H. Demmelmair, B. Anton, D. Gruszfeld, et al. Can infant feeding choices modulate later obesity risk? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2009; 89(5): 1502S - 1508S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]