Babies’ Weight Jump May Lead to Obesity

Babies who gain weight quickly may be more likely to be obese as toddlers, a study has found. The study focused on the first six months of life. It tracked 559 children. Their height and weight were measured at birth, age 6 months and age 3 years. Researchers then calculated their body mass index (BMI) at these ages. BMI is a number that reflects the relationship between weight and height. It’s often used to measure overweight and obesity. Babies who increased their BMI before age 6 months were more likely to be obese at age 3. The study appeared in the journal Pediatrics. HealthDay News wrote about it March 30.