Early-life weight gain boosts adult height without increasing obesity risk, study shows
Childhood undernutrition is a significant issue that can have long-lasting effects on a child’s health and development. However, a new study from the University of Michigan has found that increasing weight in a child’s first decade of life can lead to significantly taller adults, without increasing the risk of obesity or high blood pressure later in life.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study followed 1,348 participants in central Mali over 21 years. The researchers found that weight gain between the ages of 1 and 10 was associated with gains in adult stature for both females and males by age 21. This is particularly important in undernourished settings, where taller individuals are less likely to face health complications such as childbirth mortality.
Lead author Beverly Strassmann, a U-M professor of anthropology, emphasized the importance of considering the association between childhood nutrition and adult height. The study challenges the previous recommendation that interventions to reduce undernutrition in children after age 2 might not be beneficial. The research showed that weight gain after age 2 can support growth in stature and lead to taller adults who are not obese or hypertensive.
The findings suggest that nutritional interventions for children should not stop at age 2, as not all children are reached in the first 1,000 days of life. Policy for undernourished settings needs to take into account the importance of reducing undernutrition throughout childhood to support healthy growth and development.
Overall, the study highlights the benefits of weight gain in childhood for achieving full height potential as adults, and the importance of addressing undernutrition in children to promote long-term health and well-being. The research provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers working in undernourished settings to support the growth and development of children facing undernutrition.
