Weight gain in infancy is obesity indicator

It is never too early in life to start worrying about weight, a study out today suggests.

Harvard researchers have found evidence of a link between childhood obesity and rapid weight gain during the first six months of life.

Analysis of over 2,000 pregnant women and their children found putting on significant weight gain during infancy had an effect three years later.

It found an infant weighing 8.4kg after six months would have a 40 per cent higher risk of obesity at three-years-old than a baby who weighed the same at birth, but just 7.7kg after six months.

“The mounting evidence suggests that infancy may be a critical period during which to prevent childhood obesity and its related consequences,” lead author Elsie Taveras said.

However, it is not yet clear how this link works. The study was not able to isolate social and behavioural interactions around feeding between parents and infants.

“There is still a lot more we need to understand about the mechanisms of how this all fits together,” Professor Taveras concluded.