“Bigger babies are more likely to become obese,” exclaims theDaily Mail, also reporting that parents should not assume their overweight children “are going to grow out of it”.

This study measured the weight and length of over 44,000 infants at six-monthly intervals between ages one and 24 months. Children who moved up more than two weight categories in early life were more likely to be obese at age five and 10. These children were more than twice as likely to be obese by age five compared to those who experienced less change in weight categories. They were also 75% more likely to be obese at 10 years old.

The study also found that babies who started off in the higher weight categories were more likely to be obese in later childhood than those who started off smaller. However, the biggest babies – bigger than 90% of children their age – were excluded from the study, and so the effect on this group is not known.

This study highlights the possibility that excess increases in an infant’s weight could be associated with obesity in later childhood. Whether this could be associated with overweight and obesity into adulthood, or related health problems, cannot be assumed from this study.

The majority of infants are unlikely to experience the level of weight change observed in this study. Parents should continue to follow the advice of the health practitioner who monitors their baby’s growth.

 

 

This excerpt is taken from NHS Choices. To read more of this article please click here.