Predictors of Weight and Adiposity During Early Infancy: A Prospective Study

Abstract

The problem of overweight/ obesity among children has led some experts to suggest that the current Institute of Medicine recommendation for pregnancy weight gain may play a role in early childhood overweight. The study examined the predictors of early infancy weight and body composition as a prospective study that followed mothers and their newborns from birth through 12 weeks postpartum. Participants were 40 mother-infant pairs either exclusively breastfeeding or mixed feeding. The main outcomes were weight changes, weight-for-height z score, height-for-age z score, weight-for-age z score, BMI-for-age z score, and percent body fat measured by the PEA POD body composition system and adjusted for infant feeding practice and gestational age. Female infants accumulated higher percent body fat than male infants through the 12 weeks of follow-up. Maternal pregnancy weight gain positively correlated with infant length at the different time points and not infant weight. Maternal prepregnancy body mass index (P = .030) and pregnancy weight gain (P = .040) significantly correlated with infant birth weight and not weights at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postpartum. Maternal pregnancy weight gain had an inverse association with infant percent body fat after adjusting for other covariates. In conclusion, maternal pregnancy weight gain predicted infant birth weight but not infant adiposity and subsequent weight through the first 12 weeks after delivery. Higher pregnancy weight gain predicts slower early postnatal growth. © 2009, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.