Abstract
Aim: To assess whether an association may exist between maternal pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) and infant's growth throughout the first year of life.
Methods: Prospective observational cohort study including 1246 at term, singleton, healthy newborns. Mothers were interviewed before discharge about pre-pregnancy weight, sociodemographic data, lifestyle and were given a diary to record the type of feeding during the study period. Maternal pre-pregnacy BMI was categorized according to the World Health Organization criteria as: underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal-weight (18.5 kg/m2< BMI< 25 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). Infant's growth (weight, length, BMI) data were collected during visits scheduled at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 months of life, and z-scores were calculated.
Results: Birth weight was lower in infants born to underweight (mean 3289 g, SD 384) than normal-weight (mean 3416 g, SD 408) and overweight mothers (mean 3426 g, SD 431) (P< 0.05). Throughout the first year of life, the infant's BMI z-score ranged between 0.37 and 0.77 in the whole sample but was significantly higher in infants born to overweight than underweight and normal-weight mothers from 6 months onwards (maximum P=0.024). Significance of difference decreased (P=0.072) after adjusting for confounders (breastfeeding, solid foods introduction and type, mother age,educational level. No overall significant difference occurred among underweight, normal-weight and overweight mothers for length z-score.
Conclusions: The infant's BMI z-score pattern throughout the first year of life may be associated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI.
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Verduci, E., Radaelli, G., Salvatici, E. et al. Infant's Growth Throught the First Year of Life and Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index. Pediatr Res 70 (Suppl 5), 842 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.1067
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2011.1067