304102
Infant weight gain in week 1 and BMI at age 2: A prospective cohort study in an urban US population
Goals: Determine if weight change in week 1 was associated with BMI >85th percentile at 2 years and whether feeding method was associated with change in weight during week 1.
Methods: We enrolled newborns into a prospective cohort study at an urban, Boston hospital from 2008-2012. All feeds were recorded during infants’ first week of life and infants were weighed and measured at birth, 7 days, and 2 years. Statistical analyses were conducted using Mann-Whitney U tests.
Results: Of the 450 infants enrolled, 306 remained in the study for 2 years. Infant change in weight in week 1 was predictive of BMI at age 2. Infants who gained more weight in week 1 were more likely to have a BMI >85th percentile at age 2 (p=0.008); normal weight 2-year-olds had a median weight gain of 39 grams during week 1 vs. 87 grams for overweight 2-year-olds. Infants exclusively breastfed for the first week of life gained less weight than infants receiving any formula (p<0.001). Exclusively breastfed infants had a mean weight loss of 5 grams and mixed/formula fed infants had a mean gain of 59 grams at 1 week.
Conclusion: Infants gaining more weight in week 1 were more likely to have a BMI >85th percentile at age 2. Exclusively breastfed infants gained less weight in week 1 than infants who were not, demonstrating a normative weight pattern.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionPublic health biology
Learning Objectives:
Describe the relationship between weight change during the first week of life and BMI at 2 years of age.
Compare the nature of weight change during the first week of life for exclusively breastfed infants and mixed/formula fed infants.
Keyword(s): Obesity, Breastfeeding
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI on this project and conducted the study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.