Early Nutrition and Later Adiposity

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 131; no. 3; pp. 874S - 880S
• Main Authors: Martorell, Reynaldo, Stein, Aryeh D., Schroeder, Dirk G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.03.2001; American Society for Nutritional Sciences; American Institute of Nutrition
• Subjects: Adipocytes - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Birth Weight; birthweight; Body Mass Index; Breast Feeding; breastfeeding; Child Nutrition Disorders - complications; Child Nutrition Disorders - physiopathology; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Child, Preschool; Diabetes, Gestational; Female; gestational diabetes; Humans; Infant; Infant Nutrition Disorders - complications; Infant Nutrition Disorders - physiopathology; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Infant, Newborn; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Obesity; Obesity - etiology; Pregnancy; programming; Risk Factors; stunting; Time Factors; birthweight; breastfeeding; stunting; gestational diabetes; obesity; programming; Endocrinopathy; Human; Obesity; Adipose tissue; Pregnancy disorders; Diabetes mellitus; Nutrition disorder; Review; Breast feeding; Maternal diseases; Feeding; Prenatal; Diet; Risk factor; Birth weight; Antecedent; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/131.3.874S

The objective was to review whether nutrition during pregnancy and the first 3 y of life predisposes individuals to be fatter as adults. The roles of undernutrition, overnutrition and breastfeeding were considered. The evidence that poor nutrition in early life is a risk factor for increased fatness later in life is inconclusive. Overnutrition, as proxied by high birthweight or gestational diabetes, on the other hand, is associated with subsequent fatness. Two large, well-conducted studies in developed countries suggest that breastfeeding has a protective effect. Nutrition in early life has a demonstrable but small impact on adult obesity.