BMJ  2005;331:929 (22 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.38586.411273.E0 (published 14 October 2005)

Paper

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

¹ MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, ² School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TZ, ³ Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York YO10 5DD, ⁴ Child Health Research and Policy Unit, City University, London EC1Y 4TY, ⁵ Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH

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.

Introduction

Levels of overweight and obesity have increased markedly during the past decade in all age groups.^{1 2} The UK government has set a target to halt the year on year rise in obesity in children aged 11 by 2010 as part of an overall strategy to tackle the rising prevalence of obesity in the population. Given the lack of evidence of effective treatments, action to achieve this target must focus mainly on prevention.³ It is not clear, however, how early in life prevention could begin.

Observational evidence suggests that faster growth during childhood is associated with an increased risk of obesity in later life,^{4 5} suggesting that interventions aimed at modifying childhood growth could prevent adult obesity. Recent studies in the US and Finland have shown that patterns of growth during infancy may be associated with both childhood and adult obesity,^{6 7} suggesting the potential for intervention during infancy. The precise patterns of growth leading to obesity are unclear and both infant size and infant growth have been implicated.^{6 7}

We carried out a systematic review to assess the association between infant growth and subsequent obesity and to establish whether groups of infants with particular patterns of growth are at greater risk. We considered both size and growth because each is important in understanding the growth status of an infant—for example, an infant may be small but be growing rapidly. Given secular trends in children's growth,⁸ we also assessed whether any associations identified in the past are likely to apply to infants now.

Methods

This research was part of a wider review of scientific evidence on infant growth and health and wellbeing throughout the life course, which was carried out alongside a review of lay perspectives on infant size and growth, supplemented by individual and focus group interviews (J Baird et al, Defining optimal infant growth for lifetime health: a systematic review of lay and scientific literature (unpublished report)).

We sought studies that described the relation between any aspect of infant growth or size and the development of overweight or obesity at any later age. Studies of infant size were eligible for inclusion if they reported at least one measurement of infant size between 3 months and 2 years. We included studies of infant growth if they reported at least two measurements of size up to 2 years, of which at least one was between 3 months and 2 years.

The outcomes we considered were overweight or obesity. We did not specify a definition of obesity as studies may have been published before currently accepted definitions were introduced.⁹ We did not impose any limits in relation to language, study timing, or setting.

We searched Medline and Embase from their start dates to June 2005 and hand searched the bibliographies of all included studies. We also contacted first authors of included studies and other experts to identify further published or unpublished analyses.

We followed the methods recommended by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.¹⁰ Study quality was assessed by using a checklist and summarised as to whether there was a low, medium, or high risk of bias for study results. The confounding factors we considered important in the relation between infant size or growth and obesity were socioeconomic status, parental size, and method of infant feeding.

Our approach to synthesis was mainly narrative but we explored the potential for meta-analysis according to standard procedures.¹⁰

Results

We identified 27 949 references. Screening of abstracts and reference lists identified 24 studies that met our inclusion criteria. All 24 studies were observational (22 cohort studies and two case-control). All but two studies were based in developed countries.

We considered that 15 studies were at medium risk of bias, six at high risk, and three at low risk. Common sources of bias were insufficient description of participants, high rates of attrition, and inadequate consideration of confounding factors.

Studies of infant size
Eighteen studies assessed the relation between infant size and obesity at ages ranging from 3 to 35 years (table 1). Most focused on "infant obesity" defined in various ways or on infants at the highest end of the distribution of weight or body mass index. Year of birth of infants was 1927 to 1992. Sixteen were cohort studies, two were case-control studies, and all but one were set in developed countries.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 1 Summary data extracted from studies of infant size, ordered by year of birth

 

Eleven studies described infant obesity with varying definitions based on body mass index,^11-15 weight, weight for height,^16-20 or skinfold thickness²¹ (table 1). When reporting the findings of these studies we have used the term infant obesity to describe exposure status, though we recognise that the definition of infant obesity is controversial. The seven other studies assessed infant size in terms of weight,^{6 22-24} weight for height,^{25 26} or body mass index⁷ without using a definition of infant obesity.

All studies used centile points in body mass index, skinfolds, weight for height, or a clinical definition to define obesity as an outcome. Six studies focused on obesity in childhood up to the age of 10: four of these defined obesity according to weight for height^{17 18 20 23} and two according to body mass index.^{6 22} Five studies focused on obesity in adolescence (9-18 years), three defining obesity by body mass index^{14 15 19} and two using weight.^{24 25} Seven studies described adult obesity, four using body mass index to define obesity^{7 11-13} and three using weight or skinfold thickness measurements.^{16 21 26} Most of the studies in adults were of those aged 20-35 years.^{7 11-13 16 21 26}

There was considerable consistency in study findings. Eleven studies found that infants who were heavier during infancy or were defined as obese were more likely to develop obesity in childhood,^{6 18 20 22} adolescence,^{14 19 24 25} and adulthood.^{7 12 16}

Six studies related infant size to obesity in childhood. Four found that infants who had been obese^{18 20} or who were in the highest end of the distribution for weight^{6 22} were more likely to be obese at age 5-7 years than non-obese infants, with odds ratios ranging from 1.50 to 9.38. Three of the studies were based on cohorts of children born since 1985.^{6 20 22} The fourth was of children born between 1968 and 1970, suggesting that these relations have been consistent over time.¹⁸ Of the two other studies in childhood, one study failed to show an association.²³ The other study failed to show an association in the overall sample, though did find an increased risk of obesity at 5 years in a subsample of infants who had been obese.¹⁷

Of the five studies of adolescence, four found that larger size in infancy was related to increased risk of obesity at 9-18 years.^{14 19 24 25} Effect sizes ranged between relative risk of 1.35 and odds ratio of 3.0 for adolescent obesity in infants at the highest end of the weight distribution^{19 24 25} or in obese compared with non-obese infants.¹⁴ The years of birth ranged from 1945 to 1982, suggesting that these relations have been consistent over time. In the remaining study the direction of the association, though not significant, was consistent with the findings of the other studies.¹⁵

Of the seven studies in adulthood, three reported significant associations between infant size and later obesity. Two studies showed that obese infants were more likely to be obese as young adults at ages 20-30 years than non-obese infants,^{12 16} and the third found that larger size at 6 months of age was associated with increased lifetime risk of obesity.⁷ The findings of three other studies of adults suggested a positive relation between infant size and later obesity but were not significant.^{11 13 21} The final study, which was based on only 27 participants, failed to show an association.²⁶ Year of birth in the studies of adults ranged between 1929 and 1970, suggesting that associations have been consistent over time.

Studies of infant growth
Ten studies assessed the relation between infant growth and subsequent obesity (table 2). Nine were cohort studies,^{6 19 22 27-32} and one was a case-control study.²⁴ Definitions of infant growth varied. Eight studies used weight gain during the first year of life.^{6 22 24 28-32} Two studies used increase in weight for age²⁷ or weight for height z scores.¹⁹

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 2 Summary data extracted from studies of infant growth, ordered by year of birth

 

Six studies examined obesity in children, four with body mass index^{6 22 30 32} and two with weight.^{28 29} Of two studies of adolescents, one defined obesity according to body mass index and the other used a clinical definition.^{19 24} Both the studies of young adults defined obesity by body mass index.^{27 31}

Seven of the ten studies examining infant growth found that more rapid growth in infancy was associated with greater risk of obesity at ages ranging from 4.5 to 20 years. In four studies of childhood, odds ratios of obesity in children who grew more rapidly in infancy compared with those who grew less rapidly ranged between 1.06 and 5.70.^{6 22 30 32} The studies of adolescents and young adults reported odds ratios of later obesity ranging from 1.41 to 5.22.^{19 27 31} The analyses in six of the seven studies were adjusted for important confounding factors,^{6 19 22 27 30 31} and we considered three studies to have a low risk of bias.^{19 22 30} Associations between infant growth and later obesity were consistent over time: year of birth ranged from 1945 to 1994. Three studies, two in children and one in adolescents, failed to show an association between infant growth and later obesity.^{24 28 29}

We could not carry out a meta-analysis of the relation between infant size or growth and later obesity because the definitions of both the exposures (infant size or growth) and outcomes (childhood or adult obesity) varied widely between studies.

Discussion

This review suggests that both size and growth during infancy are related to risk of obesity in children and adults. Most studies of infant size found that infants who were defined as "obese" or who were at the highest end of the distribution for weight or body mass index were more likely to develop obesity in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood than other infants. The evidence relating to infant growth was also consistent across most studies reviewed. Infants who grew more rapidly (usually measured as weight gain) were more likely to be obese in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood than other infants. There was no evidence to suggest that exposure at a particular time during infancy was critical: larger size or a rapid phase of growth at a range of intervals during the first and second year of life predisposed to later obesity. Associations were also consistent across a range of settings in developed countries; for obesity measured in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood; and over time for people born from 1927 to 1994.

Strengths and limitations of this review
Our review used rigorous and standard methods and was supported by an expert advisory group.¹¹ There were several challenges in interpreting the evidence. Most studies had at least a medium risk of bias in relation to the review question. Less than half of the studies of infant size took adequate account of confounding factors, though seven of the ten studies of infant growth considered most important confounders. Definitions of both the exposure (infant size or growth) and the outcome (obesity) varied between studies making meta-analysis impossible. This limits our ability to make precise conclusions about the size of the effect, though the consistency of the associations we observed between both infant size and growth and later obesity across a range of settings and time periods suggest that the association is robust.

Systematic reviews are subject to publication bias. Although we attempted to limit the impact of this through contact with first authors and experts, we did not identify any unpublished analyses. This review was part of a much larger review and so it was impractical to obtain original data from study authors to carry out secondary analyses. We therefore relied on published data from studies that were of variable quality.

Comparison with other research
Our findings amplify those of earlier systematic reviews. These found that rapid growth at different ages in childhood was associated with greater risk of later obesity.^{4 33} One review also found that birth weight was positively associated with adult body mass index.⁴ In our review odds ratios and relative risks of subsequent obesity in infants who had been obese compared with non-obese infants ranged between 1.35 and 9.38. Though not directly comparable, odds ratios tended to be lower in the studies of birth weight. For example, in a study of young Swedish men odds ratio of overweight increased from 1.07 to 1.67 going from the lowest ( 5th centile) to the highest (> 95th centile) birthweight group.³⁴ In our review both large infant size and rapid infant growth were associated with later obesity. Babies who are small at birth experience rapid growth, at least in early infancy. Taken with other evidence, our review suggests that both prenatal and infant growth trajectories may be important in predicting adult obesity.

Conclusions
Infants in the highest end of the distribution for weight or body mass index and those who grow rapidly are at increased risk of obesity in childhood and adulthood. This suggests that factors during infancy or before that are related to infant growth influence the risk of later obesity. To inform public health policy aimed at reducing levels of childhood obesity, future research needs to investigate the determinants of these patterns of growth. The relation of infant growth with other health outcomes should be explored to assess whether interventions to alter infant growth to prevent obesity are likely to be associated with other benefits or harms. It will also be important to assess whether factors influencing infant growth are amenable to change, to establish which strategies might alter infant growth, and to find out whether these are acceptable to parents.

What is already known on this topic Levels of overweight and obesity are increasing in all age groups It is not clear how early in life prevention of obesity could begin nor what form it could take Birth weight and childhood growth are related to risk of adult obesity, but the associations of infant size and growth with obesity have not been systematically assessed What this study adds Infants who are in 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 Strategies for prevention of childhood and adult obesity may need to address factors during or before infancy that are related to infant growth

---

We thank our advisory group for their input to the project, especially Paul Dieppe for chairing it. We also thank Liz Payne for carrying out our searches and colleagues at Medical Research Council Epidemiology Resource Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, for their assistance and support. We are grateful to those who have reviewed this project and thank the experts and first authors of papers that we contacted for their assistance.

Contributors: CL, JB, HR, and JK obtained funding. All authors were responsible for the concept and design of the study. JB, DF, and PL carried out the review work with assistance from CL, HR, and JK. All authors were responsible for the interpretation of findings. JB and CL produced the first draft of the paper, and all authors were responsible for critical revision of the manuscript. CL is guarantor.

Funding: Department of Health. JB is an MRC Special training fellow in health services and health of the public research.

Competing interests: None declared.

Ethical approval: Not required.

References

1. Department of Health. Health survey for England 2003. London: Stationery Office, 2004.
2. Stamatakis E. Anthropometric measurements, overweight, and obesity. In: Sproston K, Primatesta P, eds. Health Survey for England 2002: the health of children and young people, London: Stationery Office, 2002.
3. Summerbell CD, Ashton V, Campbell KJ, Edmunds L, Kelly S, Waters E. Interventions for treating obesity in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005;2: CD001872.
4. Parsons TJ, Power C, Logan S, Summerbell CD. Childhood predictors of adult obesity: a systematic review. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999;23: S1-107.
5. Parsons TJ, Power C, Manor O. Fetal and early life growth and body mass index from birth to early adulthood in 1958 British cohort: longitudinal study. BMJ 2001;323: 1331-5.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
6. Stettler N, Zemel BS, Kumanyika S, Stallings VA. Infant weight gain and childhood overweight status in a multicenter, cohort study. Pediatrics 2002;109: 194-9.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
7. Eriksson J, Forsen T, Osmond C, Barker D. Obesity from cradle to grave. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2003;27: 722-7.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
8. Cole TJ. Secular trends in growth. Proc Nutr Soc 2000;59: 317-24.[ISI][Medline]
9. Cole TJ, Belliszi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ 2000;320: 1240-3.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
10. NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Undertaking systematic reviews of research on effectiveness: CRD's guidance for those carrying out or commissioning reviews. Report No 4. 2nd ed. 2001. York: Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, 2001.
11. Whitaker RC, Wright JA, Pepe MS, Seidel KD, Dietz WH. Predicting obesity in young adulthood from childhood and parental obesity. N Engl J Med 1997;337: 869-73.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
12. Rolland-Cachera MF, Deheeger M, Guilloud-Bataille M, Avons P, Patois E, Sempe M. Tracking the development of adiposity from one month of age to adulthood. Ann Human Biol 1987;14: 219-29.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
13. Guo SS, Roche AF, Chumlea WC, Gardner JD, Siervogel RM. The predictive value of childhood body mass index values for overweight at age 35 y. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59: 810-9.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
14. He Q, Karlberg J. Prediction of adult overweight during the pediatric years. Pediatr Res 1999;46: 697-703.[ISI][Medline]
15. Tienboon P, Wahlqvist ML. A prospective study of weight and height going from infancy to adolescence. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2002;11: 42-7.[Medline]
16. Charney E, Goodman HC, McBride M, Lyon B, Pratt R. Childhood antecedents of adult obesity. Do chubby infants become obese adults? N Engl J Med 1976;295: 6-9.[Abstract]
17. Asher P. Fat babies and fat children. The prognosis of obesity in the very young. Arch Dis Child 1966;41: 672-3.
18. Poskitt EM, Cole TJ. Do fat babies stay fat? BMJ 1977;i: 7-9.
19. Monteiro PO, Victora CG, Barros FC, Monteiro LM. Birth size, early childhood growth, and adolescent obesity in a Brazilian birth cohort. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2003;27: 1274-82.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
20. Mei Z, Grummer-Strawn LM, Scanlon KS. Does overweight in infancy persist through the preschool years? An analysis of CDC pediatric nutrition surveillance system data. Soz Praventivmed 2003;48: 161-7.[ISI][Medline]
21. Garn SM, LaVelle M. Two-decade follow-up of fatness in early childhood. Am J Dis Child 1985;139: 181-5.[Abstract]
22. Reilly JJ, Armstrong J, Dorosty AR, Emmett PM, Ness A, Rogers I, et al. Early life risk factors for obesity in childhood: cohort study. BMJ 2005;330: 1357.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
23. Wilkinson PW, Parkin JM, Pearlson J, Philips PR, Sykes P. Obesity in childhood: a community study in Newcastle upon Tyne. Lancet 1977;i: 350-2.
24. Heald FP, Hollander RJ. The relationship between obesity in adolescence and early growth. J Pediatr 1965;67: 35-8.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
25. Johnston FE, Mack RW. Obesity in urban black adolescents of high and low relative weight at 1 year of age. Am J Dis Child 1978;132: 862-4.[Abstract]
26. Mossberg HO. 40-year follow-up of overweight children. Lancet 1989;ii: 491-3.
27. Stettler N, Kumanyika SK, Katz SH, Zemel BS, Stallings VA. Rapid weight gain during infancy and obesity in young adulthood in a cohort of African Americans. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77: 1374-8.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
28. Eid EE. Follow-up study of physical growth of children who had excessive weight gain in first six months of life. BMJ 1970;ii: 74-6.
29. Mellbin T, Vuille JC. Physical development at 7 years of age in relation to velocity of weight gain in infancy with special reference to incidence of overweight. Br J Prev Soc Med 1973;27: 225-35.[ISI][Medline]
30. Stettler N, Bovet P, Shamlaye H, Zemel BS, Stallings VA, Paccaud F. Prevalence and risk factors for overweight and obesity in children from Seychelles, a country in rapid transition: the importance of early growth. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002;26: 214-9.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
31. Stettler N, Stallings VA, Troxel AB, Zhao J, Schinnar R, Nelson BA, et al. Weight gain in the first week of life and overweight in adulthood: a cohort study of European American subjects fed formula milk. Circulation 2005;111: 1897-903.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
32. Toschke AM, Grote V, Koletzko B, von Kries R. Identifying children at high risk for overweight at school entry by weight gain during the first 2 years. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004;158: 449-52.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
33. Monteiro POA, Victora CG. Rapid growth in infancy and childhood and obesity in later life—a systematic review. Obes Rev 2005;6: 143-54.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
34. Rasmussen F, Johansson M. The relation of weight, length and ponderal index at birth to body mass index and overweight among 18-year old males in Sweden. Eur J Epidemiol 1998;14: 373-80.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]

(Accepted 16 August 2005)

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Hit parade
BMJ 2005 331: 1277. [Extract] [Full Text]

Obesity, like atherosclerosis, starts early in life

Tsung O Cheng
BMJ 2005 331: 1145. [Extract] [Full Text]

Obesity begins in infancy
BMJ 2005 331: 0. [Full Text] [PDF]

Early life risk factors for obesity in childhood: cohort study

John J Reilly, Julie Armstrong, Ahmad R Dorosty, Pauline M Emmett, A Ness, I Rogers, Colin Steer, Andrea Sherriff for the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Study Team
BMJ 2005 330: 1357. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Fetal and early life growth and body mass index from birth to early adulthood in 1958 British cohort: longitudinal study

Tessa J Parsons, Chris Power, and Orly Manor
BMJ 2001 323: 1331-1335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey

Tim J Cole, Mary C Bellizzi, Katherine M Flegal, and William H Dietz
BMJ 2000 320: 1240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Li, R., Fein, S. B., Grummer-Strawn, L. M. (2008). Association of Breastfeeding Intensity and Bottle-Emptying Behaviors at Early Infancy With Infants' Risk for Excess Weight at Late Infancy. Pediatrics 122: S77-S84 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Belfort, M. B., Rifas-Shiman, S. L., Rich-Edwards, J. W., Kleinman, K. P., Oken, E., Gillman, M. W. (2008). Infant Growth and Child Cognition at 3 Years of Age. Pediatrics 122: e689-e695 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Kim, J., Peterson, K. E. (2008). Association of Infant Child Care With Infant Feeding Practices and Weight Gain Among US Infants. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 162: 627-633 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Wright, C, Lakshman, R, Emmett, P, Ong, K K (2008). Implications of adopting the WHO 2006 Child Growth Standard in the UK: two prospective cohort studies. Arch. Dis. Child. 93: 566-569 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Hui, L. L., Schooling, C. M., Leung, S. S. L., Mak, K. H., Ho, L. M., Lam, T. H., Leung, G. M. (2008). Birth Weight, Infant Growth, and Childhood Body Mass Index: Hong Kong's Children of 1997 Birth Cohort. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 162: 212-218 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• McCarthy, A., Hughes, R., Tilling, K., Davies, D., Davey Smith, G., Ben-Shlomo, Y. (2007). Birth weight; postnatal, infant, and childhood growth; and obesity in young adulthood: evidence from the Barry Caerphilly Growth Study. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 86: 907-913 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Stettler, N. (2007). Commentary: Growing up optimally in societies undergoing the nutritional transition, public health and research challenges. Int J Epidemiol 36: 558-559 [Full text]  
• Scholtens, S., Gehring, U., Brunekreef, B., Smit, H. A., de Jongste, J. C., Kerkhof, M., Gerritsen, J., Wijga, A. H. (2007). Breastfeeding, Weight Gain in Infancy, and Overweight at Seven Years of Age: The Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy Birth Cohort Study. Am J Epidemiol 165: 919-926 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Saenger, P., Czernichow, P., Hughes, I., Reiter, E. O. (2007). Small for Gestational Age: Short Stature and Beyond. Endocr. Rev. 28: 219-251 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Taylor, P. D., Poston, L. (2007). Developmental programming of obesity in mammals. Exp Physiol 92: 287-298 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Lucas, P, Arai, L, Baird, J, Kleijnen, J, Law, C, Roberts, H (2007). A systematic review of lay views about infant size and growth. Arch. Dis. Child. 92: 120-127 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Singhal, A., Cole, T. J., Fewtrell, M., Kennedy, K., Stephenson, T., Elias-Jones, A., Lucas, A. (2007). Promotion of Faster Weight Gain in Infants Born Small for Gestational Age: Is There an Adverse Effect on Later Blood Pressure?. Circulation 115: 213-220 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Landmann, E., Geller, F., Schilling, J., Rudloff, S., Foeller-Gaudier, E., Gortner, L. (2006). Absence of the Wild-type Allele (192 Base Pairs) of a Polymorphism in the Promoter Region of the IGF-I Gene but Not a Polymorphism in the Insulin Gene Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Locus Is Associated With Accelerated Weight Gain in Infancy. Pediatrics 118: 2374-2379 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Gibson, L. J, Peto, J., Warren, J. M, Silva, I. d. S. (2006). Lack of evidence on diets for obesity for children: a systematic review. Int J Epidemiol 35: 1544-1552 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Garemo, M., Palsdottir, V., Strandvik, B. (2006). Metabolic markers in relation to nutrition and growth in healthy 4-y-old children in Sweden.. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 84: 1021-1026 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• (2005). Hit parade. BMJ 331: 1277-1277 [Full text]  
• Cheng, T. O (2005). Obesity, like atherosclerosis, starts early in life. BMJ 331: 1145-1145 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Breast fed overweight in babies less likely to result in childhood obesity

Penny J Barnard
bmj.com, 26 Oct 2005 [Full text]

Careless Words Can Mislead

John A Davis
bmj.com, 26 Oct 2005 [Full text]

Time to wake up to this global challenge.

sameer batra, et al.
bmj.com, 27 Oct 2005 [Full text]

Overfed babies

Tom H Hughes-Davies
bmj.com, 27 Oct 2005 [Full text]

Re: Breast fed overweight in babies less likely to result in childhood obesity

Mary G Gibbs
bmj.com, 31 Oct 2005 [Full text]

Obesity, Like Atherosclerosis, Starts Very Early In LIfe

Tsung O. Cheng
bmj.com, 1 Nov 2005 [Full text]

Never let the evidence get in the way of a good story

Charlotte M Wright
bmj.com, 8 Dec 2005 [Full text]