Children gaining weight quickly at birth are prone to obesity later

Babies who gain weight quickly in the first 6 months of life tend to be obese at toddler age, Harvard University experts say.

The team classified 559 babies into 4 groups based on their weight and birth weight, 6 months, and 3 years. Nearly one tenth of them are obese at age 3.

The heaviest babies at birth and those who gain weight the fastest in the first 6 months have a 40% higher risk of obesity at age 3.

Obesity at the age of 3 does not necessarily translate into obesity in childhood and adulthood, but increases the risk, said researcher Elsie Taveras, from Harvard University Medical School. The group also argued that the neonatal period may be an important period in controlling children's obesity and related consequences.