Hong Kong Med J 2009;15(Suppl 2):S17-21
Short- and medium-term outcomes of accelerated infant growth in a Hong Kong Chinese birth cohort
CM Schooling, LL Hui, SSL Leung, LM Ho, KH Mak, GM Leung
Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
1. In a large, population-representative, Chinese birth cohort, higher birth weight and rapid growth, particularly at 0-3 months, were associated with higher body mass index (BMI) at 7 years.
2. Boys born heavy who had grown fast had the highest BMI, but rapid growth had the largest impact in lighter-born boys.
3. Rapid growth at 0-3 months or 3-12 months was not associated with a compensatory lower risk of serious infectious morbidity.
4. The ability to grow fast may be an embodiment of good health status rather than fast growth being causally protective.
2. Boys born heavy who had grown fast had the highest BMI, but rapid growth had the largest impact in lighter-born boys.
3. Rapid growth at 0-3 months or 3-12 months was not associated with a compensatory lower risk of serious infectious morbidity.
4. The ability to grow fast may be an embodiment of good health status rather than fast growth being causally protective.