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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #218561
Title: Maternal overweight predicts infant caloric intake from complimentary foods and weight-for-length at age 6 months

Author
item GILCHRIST, JANET - ACNC/UAMS
item ANDRES, ALINE - ACNC/UAMS
item SMITH, STACEE - ACNC/ACH
item BADGER, THOMAS - ACNC/UAMS

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2007
Publication Date: 4/9/2008
Citation: Gilchrist, J.M., Andres, A., Smith, S.A., Badger, T.M. 2008. Maternal overweight predicts infant caloric intake from complimentary foods and weight-for-length at age 6 months [abstract]. The FASEB Journal. 22:1085.3.

Interpretive Summary: We assessed the role of maternal obesity on the potential for having obese offspring. All women and their babies were part of an on-going study, called The Beginnings Study. We calculated mother's Body Mass Index (BMI) from self-reported height and weight. We measured infant's weight and length. Mothers provided a written 3-day record of all foods and beverages eaten by infants. We had data at both 3 and 6 months on 47 formula-fed infants. At 3 months, all infants received only formula. By 6 months, all continued on formula and all but one had also started to eat solid foods. Infants we split into two groups, based on mother's BMI: normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2, n = 21) and overweight (BMI = 25 kg/m2, n = 26). At 3 months, there were no differences in body size between the two groups. At 6 months, infants of overweight mothers ate more calories from solid foods than infants of normal weight mothers. Overweight mothers were more likely (than normal weight mothers) to offer their infants "stage 2 or 3" foods, such as meats, mixed dishes, and desserts. The transition from formula feeding to table foods may be an important period for future study to prevent childhood obesity.

Technical Abstract: We assessed the role of maternal overweight on infant dietary intake and body size during the first 6 months of life. Participants were from the Beginnings study, an on-going, longitudinal cohort. Trained research assistants measured infant weight and length; weight-for-length percentiles (WL percent) and Z-scores (WLZ) were calculated with the CDC EpiInfo program. Mothers provided 3-day records of formula and complementary foods consumed by infants, which were analyzed using NDSR software. Matched data were available for 47 formula-fed (FF) infants at 3 and 6 months of age. At 3 months, all infants were exclusively FF; at 6 months, all but one also ate complementary foods. Groups were divided based on maternal BMI: normal weight (less than 25kg/m2, n equals 21) vs. overweight (greater than/equal to 25 kg/m2, n equals 26). At 3 months, infants did not differ in total caloric intake, WL percent, or WLZ (p greater than 0.05). At 6 months, although total calories did not differ between groups, infants of overweight mothers had a greater caloric intake from complementary foods (120 vs. 99 kcals/day, n.s.), higher WL percent (76 vs. 56, p equals 0.007), and WLZ (0.99 vs. 0.21, p equals 0.004). Review of food records suggests that overweight mothers were more likely to offer "Stage 2 or 3" foods, such as meats, mixed dishes, and desserts. The transition from FF to table foods may be an important period for future study regarding the development of childhood obesity.