Weight Gain Velocity of Formula Fed Infants And Risk of Overweight at Age 5 Years

Abstract

Rapid weight gain during infancy has been associated with overweight and obesity later in life. However, the role of weight gain velocity (WGV) during infancy on adiposity later in life while controlling for dietary intake during infancy has not been well examined. This study characterized infant WGV and risk of overweight and adiposity in 152 healthy 5‐year‐old children that were fed either cow milk‐based (N=75) or soy‐based (N=77) formula during infancy. Body composition was assessed using Dual‐energy X‐ray Absorptiometry. Dietary intake was measured using 3‐days food records analyzed with the Nutrition Data System for Research. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between WGV during infancy and adiposity measurements at age 5, controlling for gestational age, birth weight, birth length, infant sex, caloric intake during infancy and maternal BMI. There were no differences observed between the two formula groups. WGV during the first year of life was significantly and positively associated with BMI‐for‐age z‐scores (β =1.01, p<0.001), with % body fat (β =5.72, p=0.001) and with overall body fat mass (β =1.96, p=0.001). These associations were stronger when rapid growth occurred between 6 and 9 months of age. These results indicate that rapid weight gain during infancy is an independent risk factor for overweight and higher adiposity at age 5, even after controlling for important covariates such as maternal BMI and caloric intake during infancy. These results are likely driven by differences in energy expenditure or metabolism that are exacerbated during the period of introduction of solid foods. Funded by USDA‐ARS CRIS # 6251‐51000‐005‐03S