Muscularity and Fatness of Infants and Young Children Born Small- or Large-for-Gestational-Age

Hediger, Mary L.; Overpeck, Mary D.; Kuczmarski, Robert J.; McGlynn, Andrea; Maurer, Kurt R.; Davis, William W.

doi:10.1542/peds.102.5.e60

Cited by 282 publications

(197 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Those studies that have done so have confirmed the general association between birth weight and later lean mass but have shown weak or nonsignificant associations with later fatness (Hediger et al 1998;Kensara et al 2005;Sachdev et al 2005;. One study (Kensara et al 2005) has reported an increased percentage fat in low-birth-weight elderly adults after adjusting for adult BMI, consistent with several others reporting a general inverse association between birth weight and later fatness (Table 1).…”

Section: Fetal Growth and Later Body Compositionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Programming of body composition by early growth and nutrition

Wells¹,

Chomtho²,

Fewtrell³

2007

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

392

301

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There is now compelling evidence that growth patterns in early life are associated with risk of the metabolic syndrome in adulthood, although the relative importance of prenatal v. postnatal growth for such associations remains controversial. Body composition may play a key role in the ‘programming’ of such diseases, through itself being programmed by early growth, and perhaps also by being a mediator of the programming process. Early studies reporting positive associations between birth weight and adult BMI suggested a tendency for large babies to become obese adults. Such findings appeared contradictory to the many studies linking low birth weight with increased risk of the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies now indicate that birth weight is strongly predictive of later lean mass, and has a much weaker association with later fatness. Studies that link low birth weight with a more central adipose distribution in later life remain controversial, and require confirmation using more sophisticated methodologies. Findings for infant growth rate appear population-specific, with infant weight gain predicting subsequent lean mass in developing countries, but predicting subsequent fat mass and obesity in industrialised populations. Further studies are required on this issue, to ensure that appropriate public health policies are recommended for countries across the range of economic development. Although the links between early growth and later disease risk implicate early-life nutrition, either in utero or during infancy, few prospective studies have explored the influence of early diet on later body composition. Many studies have associated breast-feeding with a reduced prevalence of obesity categorised by BMI; however, the few studies directly evaluating childhood fatness provide little support for this hypothesis. Recent advances in the ability to measure body composition during the infant period offer a major opportunity to improve the understanding of the nutritional programming of body composition and its contribution, or lack thereof, to subsequent disease risk.

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Section: Fetal Growth and Later Body Compositionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Programming of body composition by early growth and nutrition

Wells¹,

Chomtho²,

Fewtrell³

2007

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

392

301

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…35,36 This growth acceleration in childhood can lead to a disproportionately high-fat mass in relation to lean body mass. 37 These effects on body composition may favor the development of cardiovascular disease later in life. 38,39 The underlying mechanisms as well as the critical periods of weight gain that contribute to later disease are still debated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracking and determinants of subcutaneous fat mass in early childhood: the Generation R Study

Hokken-Koelega

Mook‐Kanamori

et al. 2008

Int J Obes

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Objectives: To examine the development and tracking of subcutaneous fat mass in the first 2 years of life and to examine which parental, fetal and postnatal characteristics are associated with subcutaneous fat mass. Design: This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a prospective cohort study from early fetal life onward. Subcutaneous fat mass was measured by skinfold thickness (biceps, triceps, suprailiacal, subscapular) at the ages of 1.5, 6 and 24 months in 1012 children. Information about parental, fetal and postnatal growth characteristics was collected by physical and fetal ultrasound examinations and questionnaires. Results: Normal values of subcutaneous fat mass are presented. Total subcutaneous fat mass was higher in girls than in boys at the age of 24 months (P ¼ 0.01). Subjects in the lowest and highest quartiles at the age of 6 months tended to keep their position in the same quartile at the age of 24 months (odds ratios 1.86 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 2.7)) and 1.84 (95% CI: 1.3, 2.6), respectively). Maternal height and weight, paternal weight, fetal weight at 30 weeks, birth weight and weight at the age of 6 weeks were each inversely associated with subcutaneous fat mass at the age of 24 months after adjustment for current weight at 24 months. Conclusion: This study shows for the first time that subcutaneous fat mass tends to track in the first 2 years of life. Furthermore, the results suggest that an adverse fetal environment and growth are associated with increased subcutaneous fat mass at the age of 24 months. Further studies are needed to examine whether these associations persist in later life.

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“…Two largescale studies support the view that SGA infants remain smaller through early childhood. 17,18 However, TF was not available during either study. Our findings suggest that the growth of SGA infants provided high-nutrient formula may be potentiated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%