MUSC Children's Health - Rapid Weight Gain During a Baby's First Few Months May Be Indicative of Obesity Later

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Rapid Weight Gain During a Baby's First Few Months May Be Indicative of Obesity Later
Physical Activity is Important, Even For the Little Ones

Courtesy of MUSChealth.com

February 20, 2002 - Weight gain in early infancy—a possible link to future obesity

Babies who rapidly gain weight during the first 4 months of their lives tend to be more prone to obesity when they are 7 years old, according to a new study. The results suggest that obesity may be prevented earlier than previously thought, through intervention early on to establish appropriate feeding and growth patterns in infants.

Obesity is a growing health concern in the United States—even among young children. Past studies have linked several factors to a child’s predisposition toward obesity later in life, including the following:

a mother who is overweight
gestational diabetes during pregnancy
high birthweight
formula feeding versus breastfeeding
early introduction of solid foods
overfeeding
television viewing/sedentary lifestyle

In the current study, researchers examined the association between the rate of weight gain between birth and 4 months of age and the prevalence of childhood obesity among 27,899 participants between 1959 and 1965. The study found that for each 100 grams of weight gain per month between birth and age 4 months, the risk of being overweight at age 7 was increased by 29 percent. This finding appeared to be independent of birthweight and weight at age 1.

However, the study did not assess the impact of breastfeeding on the development of obesity later on. In addition, the participants in the study were born in the 1960s, when infant feeding recommendations were different from today, including the fact that infants were introduced to solid foods at an early age in the 1960s. (The American Academy of Pediatrics states that exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life provides ideal nutrition and is sufficient to support growth and development.)

Physical activity is important for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers

Babies and young children are confined too much in their strollers, play pens, and car and infant seats, according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). This confinement can lead to sedentary habits and childhood obesity, the NASPE warns.

In response, the NASPE has released its first physical activity guidelines for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. “Adopting a physically active lifestyle early in life increases the likelihood that infants and young children will learn to move skillfully,” said Dr. Jane Clark, professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland, and chair of the NASPE Early Childhood Physical Activity Guidelines Task Force.

Five guidelines were developed for each age group covered in the new guidelines:

Infants

Interaction with parents and/or caregivers in daily physical activities is important in promoting exploration of the environment. Examples include playing peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, or carrying a child to new environments for exploration.
Place infants in safe environments where they can be physically active and not be restricted in their movements for long periods of time.
Physical activity should promote development of movement skills.
The environment should meet or exceed the recommended safety standards for infants to practice large muscle activities.
Parents and caregivers should be aware of the importance of physical activity for infants and encourage movement skills.

Toddlers and Preschoolers

Toddlers should participate in at least 30 minutes of daily, structured, physical activity—preschoolers should get at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity a day.
Toddlers and preschoolers should engage in at least 60 minutes (and up to several hours) of daily, unstructured, physical activity. In addition, they should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time, except when sleeping.
Toddlers should develop movement skills that lead up to more complex movement tasks; preschoolers should become competent in movement skills that lead to more complex movement tasks. For instance, running, jumping, throwing, and kicking do not naturally occur as the child grows older. Instead, these movement skills are influenced by the environment. Children who are not exposed to stairs may be take longer to learn to climb stairs, and children who are not encouraged to bounce and chase balls may fall behind in hand-eye coordination.
Safe indoor and outdoor areas should be available for performing large muscle activity.
Parents and caregivers should be aware of the importance of physical activity for toddlers and preschoolers and encourage movement skills.

"Children and youth who do not participate in adequate physical activity are much more likely to be sedentary as adults than children and youth who are active," said NASPE Executive Director, Judy Young, Ph.D.