Sensitive Timing for Risk of Overweight Among Infants of Low-Income Hispanic Immigrants

Introduction

This study examined the association between early weight gain (0–6 months) and risk for overweight, as defined by the Institute of Medicine, at 1 year among infants of low-income Hispanic immigrant mothers.

Method

Weight-for-age data were extracted from electronic medical records of 335 infants with gestations of 37 weeks or longer and birthweights appropriate for gestational age and without medical problems likely to interfere with growth or feeding. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine the impact of early weight changes on weight status at 1 year.

Results

By 12 months, 36.7% of infants had crossed weight-for-age of 84.1% or greater on World Health Organization growth charts. In adjusted models, infants had 20.8 (95% confidence interval = 19.8, 44.0]) times the odds of reaching this benchmark at 1 year for each z score increase at 0 to 6 months.

Discussion

The study highlights a time-sensitive opportunity for interventions to reduce risk for overweight for this vulnerable population.