Obesity’s Early Start

The struggle against obesity may begin even earlier than we thought. New research shows that the amount of weight infants gain in their first week of life affects their weight as adults.

“The first few days of life are the first time a human being regulates what they’re eating,” says lead scientist Nicolas Stettler, a pediatric nutrition specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Even small changes can lead to obesity.”

Scientists studied 653 adults, ages 20 to 32, who had been weighed as newborns during a study of infant formula in Iowa. They found that those who gained the most weight during their first eight days were significantly more likely to be overweight decades later. For each additional 100 grams gained during those eight days, the infant’s risk of becoming overweight as an adult increased by 10%. The average infant weight gain in the study was 200 grams.

The analysis was limited to infants who ate formula rather than breast milk.

Although scientists aren’t sure why the first week is so important, Stettler says early feeding patterns may program the areas of the brain that control appetite or regulate different hormones.

The research was reported in the April 19 issue of Circulation.