Effect of birth weight and postnatal weight gain on body composition in early infancy: The Generation R Study.
BACKGROUND
Rapid postnatal weight gain is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes in later life. The influence of rapid weight gain on body composition in early infancy is still unknown and the critical periods of weight gain for later disease are debated.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of birth weight and rapid weight gain on body composition in the first 6 months of life.


METHODS
The Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life onwards.


METHODS
We measured body fat and fat distribution by skinfold thickness at the age of 6 weeks and 6 months in 909 Dutch term infants. Analyses were adjusted for current body mass index, sex and maternal socioeconomic status, pre-pregnancy body mass index, height and duration of breastfeeding.


RESULTS
Upward postnatal weight percentile change was associated with increased skinfold thickness, percentage body fat at 6 weeks and 6 months and a larger truncal/peripheral fat ratio at 6 months (p<0.01 for all). Birth weight was inversely associated with truncal/peripheral fat ratio (p<0.01) but not with relative body fat at 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
During early postnatal rapid weight gain infants do not grow in all body tissues in equal measure. Instead, they acquire relatively large amounts of fat, which is preferentially distributed to the truncal region. Long term observational studies have to assess if such changes in body composition persist into adulthood.
Holzhauer
Susanne
S
The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hokken Koelega
Anita C S
AC
Ridder
Maria de
Md
Hofman
Albert
A
Moll
Henriette A
HA
Steegers
Eric A P
EA
Witteman
Jacqueline C M
JC
Jaddoe
Vincent W V
VW
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009426:Netherlands; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*