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Cited by 1,185Obesity, Physical Activity, DietBirth, Development, and HealthCancer Risks and Factors

Being big or growing fast: systematic review of size and growth in infancy and later obesity

Open access
Baird, Janis, Fisher, David, Lucas, Patricia, Kleijnen, Jos, Roberts, Helen, Law, Catherine·2005·BMJ
DOI 10.1136/bmj.38586.411273.e0PMC PMC1261184
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between infant size or growth and subsequent obesity and to determine if any association has been stable over time. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, bibliographies of included studies, contact with first authors of included studies and other experts. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies that assessed the relation between infant size or growth during the first two years of life and subsequent obesity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Obesity at any age after infancy. RESULTS: 24 studies met the inclusion criteria (22 cohort and two case-control studies). Of these, 18 assessed the relation between infant size and subsequent obesity, most showing that infants who were defined as "obese" or who were at the highest end of the distribution for weight or body mass index were at increased risk of obesity. Compared with non-obese infants, in those who had been obese odds ratios or relative risks for subsequent obesity ranged from 1.35 to 9.38. Ten studies assessed the relation of infant growth with subsequent obesity and most showed that infants who grew more rapidly were at increased risk of obesity. Compared with other infants, in infants with rapid growth odds ratios and relative risks of later obesity ranged from 1.17 to 5.70. Associations were consistent for obesity at different ages and for people born over a period from 1927 to 1994. CONCLUSIONS: Infants who are at the highest end of the distribution for weight or body mass index or who grow rapidly during infancy are at increased risk of subsequent obesity.

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  • In humans, overly rapid growth and 'catch-up' growth are known risk factors for obesity.

    “whilst overly rapid growth and ‘catch-up’ growth are known risk factors for obesity [2–4].”

    From Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in intact domestic shorthair kittens from the USA (2022) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Discussion and Conclusions report that infants who grow rapidly have an increased risk of later obesity. The Comparison with other research notes that babies small at birth can grow rapidly, but it does not establish catch-up growth as a distinct risk factor. The claim is therefore supported for rapid infant growth, but not fully for catch-up growth. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Baird, J., Fisher, D., Lucas, P., Kleijnen, J., Roberts, H., & Law, C.
Affiliations
  • Southampton General Hospital (GB)
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • University of York (GB)
  • City, University of London (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Baird, Janis
ORCID
Venue
BMJ
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2005-10-14
Volume
331
Issue
7522
Pages
929
ISSN
  • 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
  • 0959-8138
  • 1468-5833
DOI
10.1136/bmj.38586.411273.e0
PMC
PMC1261184
OpenAlex
W2106914915
Cited by
1,185
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 55 · 2016: 70 · 2015: 71 · 2014: 88 · 2013: 87 · 2012: 86
FWCI
6.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.bmj.org/licenses/tdm/1.0/terms-and-conditions.html (tdm)
Locations
  • BMJ (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion)
  • Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University College London
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
Keywords
infant obesity, infant growth, childhood obesity, adult obesity, body mass index, obesity risk factors, secular trends
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Body Weight, Child, Growth, Humans, Infant, Obesity, Body Mass Index, Risk Assessment

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