WEBINAR series
Infant body composition and long-term health outcomes
Webinar recorded in March 2023
About the webinar
About the webinar
Background: Obesity and excess adiposity are leading causes of metabolic and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality globally. I body composition has not been reviewed as a potential marker for future adiposity, metabolic and cardiovascular disease.
Design: We performed a comprehensive search of published articles in the Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.
Results: The search resulted in 6,014 articles including 1 found via manual search. After abstract screening, 129 full text publications were reviewed to assess their eligibility. From these, 30 were included in the final assessment and narrative synthesis as a meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity of results.
Of the 30 studies analysed, 19 different outcomes were assessed. The strongest associations were found between infant body composition and body composition after age 2 years (studies= 7), and later BMI (studies= 5). The remaining studies found no relationship between infant adiposity and any of the following: blood pressure (5), type 1 diabetes (1), adiponectin (1), resistin (1), fasting glucose (2), fasting insulin (3), C-peptide (1), HbA1C (1), triglycerides (3), HOMA-IR (2) and cognitive function (2). One study showed a positive association with leptin, HDL and LDL cholesterol.
Conclusions: Current evidence suggests infant body composition may be a good predictor of later life adiposity and BMI. The number of studies for each outcomes is limited, and the evidence base for infant body composition as a biomarker of future health remains inconclusive. Standardised studies are required to confirm or identify its predictive value for future health and disease.
This webinar is held in partnership with the International Academy of Nutrition Educators as well as the BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health.
This webinar is held in partnership with the International Academy of Nutrition Educators as well as the BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health.
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Meet the instructor
Dr Federica Amati
Dr Federica Amati holds a PhD in Clinical Medicine Research from Imperial College London, has a masters in Public Health and is an Association for Nutrition (AfN) accredited Nutritionist. She is actively involved in nutrition, public health and mental health research at Imperial College London with the NIHR and the WHO Collaborating Centre, and teaches medical students in her post as Nutrition Topic Lead. She is a Senior Academic Officer at the NNedPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, an award-winning interdisciplinary think-tank.
She works as a nutrition scientist and lead of science communications for personalised nutrition company ZOE and holds private nutrition clinics for her clients virtually and in person in central London. She focuses on improving overall dietary quality following the principles of evidence-based nutrition science for health throughout the lifecourse. Alongside her research and private clients Federica consults for brands who are looking to make a positive impact through nutrition.
Dr Amati studied Biomedical Sciences with Honors in Endorcrine Pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, her Master’s in Public Health at Imperial College London, her MSc in Global Health Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and her PhD from Imperial College London.
© 2024 by NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health.
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