High Birth Weight Is Linked to Childhood Obesity

Scientists say that babies born with a higher birth weight may be more likely to have a high BMI as children.

Childhood obesity is a growing concern in the United States. For example, statistics suggest that obesity rates among children have tripled in the past three decades. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently addressed the issue by releasing new guidelines that recommend immediate and intensive treatment for children with high BMIs.

Why obesity rates are rising among youngsters isn't fully understood. Health experts believe a combination of factors such as larger meal portions, easy access to unhealthy foods, and spending too much time in front of a TV or other devices may play a role.

Now, new research published in Reproductive and Developmental Medicine suggests that birth weight may indicate whether an infant will experience obesity in childhood.

The researchers used birth certificate records to examine birth weight and gestational age data from 2,621 children in the U.S. and linked it to the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of children aged 2 to 6 years conducted from 1988 to 1994. They also determined the BMI status of the infants' mothers.

The analysis found that children born with a high birth weight were nearly twice as likely to have a higher BMI in early childhood than children with a healthy birth weight. Moreover, babies born to mothers with obesity were more likely to have a higher weight at birth than those born to mothers with a healthy BMI.

In addition, the scientists found that mothers aged 35 years or older were twice as likely to give birth to an infant with a high birth weight than mothers younger than 20 years.

The study’s authors explain that elevated birth weight may indicate fetal overnutrition and metabolic dysregulation, which could lead to obesity in childhood.

They suggest that improving prenatal care and increasing awareness of the potential risks of excessive fetal growth could be a promising strategy to prevent high birth weights and potentially reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity.