Association of Maternal BMI and Rapid Infant Weight Gain With Childhood Body Size and Composition

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Maternal prepregnancy BMI (ppBMI) and an infant’s rapid weight gain (RWG) are each associated with increased risk for childhood obesity. We hypothesized that ppBMI and RWG interact to further raise childhood obesity risk. METHODS: Mother-infant dyads (n = 414) from the Healthy Start Study, an observational prebirth cohort, were included. RWG was defined as a weight-for-age z score increase of ≥0.67 from birth to 3 to 7 months. Body composition was measured by air displacement plethysmography at age 4 to 7 years. General linear regression models were fit to characterize associations between ppBMI, RWG, and their interaction with the outcomes of childhood BMI-for-age z score and percent fat mass (%FM). RESULTS: A total of 18.6% (n = 77) of offspring experienced RWG. Maternal ppBMI and RWG were both positively associated with offspring BMI z score and %FM. RWG amplified the association between ppBMI and BMI z score, especially among females. Females exposed to maternal obesity and RWG had an average BMI at the 94th percentile (1.50 increase in childhood BMI z score) compared with those exposed to normal ppBMI and no RWG (average childhood BMI at the 51st percentile). RWG had a weaker effect on the association between ppBMI and %FM. Adjustment for breastfeeding status or childhood daily caloric intake did not significantly alter findings. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid infant weight gain interacts with maternal ppBMI to jointly exacerbate risk of childhood obesity. Pediatric providers should monitor infants for RWG, especially in the context of maternal obesity, to reduce future risk of obesity.

Maternal Obesity and Kawasaki Disease-like Vasculitis: A New Perspective on Cardiovascular Injury and Inflammatory Response in Offspring Male Mice

“…This is consistent with previous studies, which have demonstrated that maternal obesity affects the long-term health of offspring [13,28,29]. The interaction between maternal body mass index and rapid infant weight gain jointly exacerbate the risk of childhood obesity [30]. Moreover, maternal obesity induces metabolic dysfunction in offspring, and the mechanisms involved decreased expression of genes that were related to adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, and insulin signaling and lipid mobilization [31,32].…”

Associations of Infant Feeding, Sleep, and Weight Gain with the Toddler Gut Microbiome

“…This work has several strengths. Our sample was exclusively infants born to low-income Latinas with obesity, a demographic overlooked in GM research with a higher risk for excessive gestational weight gain and RWG of their offspring [ 30 , 31 ]. Additionally, our data collection method allowed us to connect feeding and sleep behaviors in infancy with GM composition at three years of age.…”

“…Pregnant Latina women with low-income and obesity ( n = 126) were recruited from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs in Houston, TX, USA. Latina women are recognized as a particularly vulnerable group due to their increased risk of obesity, which also extends to their offspring [ 30 , 31 ]. At baseline, maternal demographics, prenatal BMI, parity, delivery mode, infant sex, and birth anthropometrics were collected via self-report.…”

The Effect of Prenatal Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation on Offspring Fat Mass and Distribution at 24 Months Old

“…Therefore, differences found between the cohorts may be explained by the differences in growth rates. Additionally, rapid infant weight gain can interact with maternal obesity to further increase offspring adiposity [ 59 ]. The mean prepregnancy BMI of the DOMInO sample was 26.2 kg/m 2 with an upper end of 30.5 kg/m 2 .…”