Research
Energy balance
Rapid postnatal weight gain ('catch-up growth') in low-birth-weight infants significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome in adulthood.
If your baby was born small, aim for steady, healthy growth rather than rapid weight gain. Rapid 'catch-up' growth can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes later in life. Consult your pediatrician for a growth plan that balances immediate health with long-term metabolic risk.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Some clinical studies propose that rapid weight gain (catch up) in this early period may be associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease in maturity.
Why this rating
Based on observational cohort studies cited in the review.
Source
Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)
Patrí et al. · Jornal de Pediatria · 2007
DOI 10.2223/jped.1728
narrative_reviewCited 242×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Adverse environmental conditions during early somatic development (fetal/infancy) increase the lifelong risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease through persistent metabolic and physiological programming.Moderate
- Breastfeeding is associated with a lower incidence of obesity and better long-term metabolic profiles (e.g., lipid levels, blood pressure) compared to formula feeding.Moderate
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →