Big and fast growing infants at greater risk of later obesityOctober 14, 2005Being big or growing fast: systematic review of size and growth in infancy and later obesity BMJ Online First Large infants, and those who grow rapidly during the first two years of life, are at increased risk of obesity in childhood and adulthood, a study published online by the BMJ today (14 October 2005) has found. There is an urgent need to tackle rising levels of obesity in the population. However it is not clear how early in life prevention could begin. This study examines the relation between infant size and growth and later obesity. Researchers analysed 24 studies which assessed the relation between infant size and growth and the development of obesity at any later age. They found that the heaviest infants, those with the highest body mass index, and those who gained weight rapidly during the first and second year of life, were more likely to be obese in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood than other infants. The authors believe that factors during or before infancy that are related to infant growth probably influence the risk of later obesity. They suggest that future studies need to investigate what determines these patterns of growth, and to explore whether interventions to alter infant growth could 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, they conclude. BMJ-British Medical Journal |
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| Related Infant Growth Current Events and Infant Growth News Articles Multivitamins improve birth outcomes among children born to HIV-negative women Each year an estimated 20 million children are born with low birth weight worldwide, more than 95% of them in developing countries. Low birth weight, defined as less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds), is associated with increased risk of negative health outcomes, including neonatal and infant mortality, poor growth and cognitive development, and morbidity due to chronic diseases later in life, such as diabetes and heart disease. Growth patterns into childhood reveal risk of coronary heart disease later in life The risk of developing coronary heart disease as an adult is more strongly related to childhood growth patterns than body weight at any particular point in development. University of Manchester awarded £826k for brain science and mental health research The University of Manchester's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences has been awarded £826k by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Department of Health (DH). The award is part of a £5.3m package, to fund research projects into brain science and build increased capacity for clinical trials of new treatments. Water and sanitation key to health of infants in developing countries (pp 94, 112) Research among households in Peru in this week's issue of THE LANCET highlights how healthy growth of infants in less-developed countries is directly related to water supply, water storage, and sanitation-children who grow up in households where these facilities are unavailable or of poor quality are more likely to experience diarrhoeal disease and reduced body growth, with implications for later adult development. William Checkley from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, and colleagues assessed the effects of water and sanitation on childhood health in a population of 230 Peruvian infants. Children were followed up once a day for diarrhoea and Fluidizing infant gruels with amylase to improve their nutritional value The growth problems which affect the children of the countries of the South are attributable, among other causes, to insufficient and inappropriate complementary feeds. Such supplements are mainly composed of gruels made with flour from locally grown cereals mixed with water. Rich in starch, these gruels thicken and swell when cooked. Mothers therefore reduce the quantity of flour in the mixtures to obtain a more fluid consistency, more palatable for the infants. This reduces significantly the gruel's energy and nutrient content, making it difficult to ensure the children receive their nutritional needs and consequently is detrimental to their growth. Scientists from the IRD research unit & Health Benefits Of Training Mothers In Developing Countries To Breastfeed Exclusively For 6 Months (p 1418) Reducing diarrhoeal disease among infants in less-developed countries could be assisted by the implementation of straightforward community-based health programmes to promote exclusive breastfeeding for six months after childbirth, conclude authors of a study in this week's issue of THE LANCET. The WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age for infants in less-developed countries; previous research has suggested that exclusive brestfeeding for the first six months can protect against diarrhoeal disease, although there are concerns that exclusive breastfeeding could be associated with reduced infant growth. Maharaj Bhan from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New D Mild Undernutrition In Infancy Could Be Linked To Cardiovascular Health Benefits Later In Life (p1089) Authors of a UK study in this week's issue of THE LANCET suggest that current recommendations for early infant nutrition may need to be reviewed-if future research confirms preliminary findings suggesting a link between lower nutrient intake and slower growth of babies born prematurely with better cardiovascular health later in life. The acceleration of infant growth is thought to increase the later susceptibility to insulin resistance and non-insulin-dependent diabetes in animals; slow growth resulting from undernutrition is therefore thought to have a beneficial effect. To test this proposal in humans, Atul Singhal, Alan Lucas and colleagues from the Institute of Child Health, London, UK, Prenatal Zinc Supplementation Could Impair Childhood Mental Development Authors of a study in this week's issue of THE LANCET caution that the provision of zinc supplementation to pregnant women in developing countries could impair the early mental development of their children. Zinc deficiency is common in developing countries due to a diet that is low in animal protein and high in fibre. Supplements given to Bangladeshi pregnant women have previously been shown to improve infant growth and to reduce susceptibility to infectious diseases. In a follow-up study, Sally Grantham McGregor and Jena Habadani from the Institute for Child Health, London, UK, and colleagues from the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, assessed these infants Major international hormone conference MAJOR INTERNATIONAL HORMONE CONFERENCE LONDON 20 – 21 NOVEMBER 2000 Over 500 leading UK and international hormone specialists will meet at the Royal College of Physicians in London over the next two days to attend the annual meeting of the Society for Endocrinology. This major annual meeting provides a forum to present the latest hormone research. The 2000 meeting includes talks from some of the world’s leading hormone researchers and clinicians, as well as groundbreaking research by up and coming endocrinologists. Amongst the new research being presented over the two days is: 1. The actions of ecstasy on water regulating hormones – how much should you drink, and why young More Infant Growth Current Events and Infant Growth News Articles |
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