Research
Cambridge Baby Growth Study 2008-2013
It is known that there is a relationship between infant weight gain and subsequent obesity risks. Infants who gain weight quickly from birth are two to three times more likely to be overweight or obese later in life. This rapid weight gain also appears to be related to the development in later life of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As a consequence there is increasing interest in testing strategies that avoid excessive infant weight gain to prevent childhood obesity and other problems that may also occur in later life.
The Cambridge Baby Growth Study is an ongoing study that plans to follow 4,000 infants from birth to two years of age. Each infant will have a series of measurements and evaluations done at birth and then again at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. These measurements include:
- weight
- height
- waist and hip circumference
- abdominal ultrasound to measure body fat
- food patterns
- infant temperament.
The data from this study will then be used to investigate several aspects of baby growth and its relationship with obesity and diabetes in adulthood.
