0
0
Austin, Texas—November 20, 2024
A groundbreaking study led by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and Harvard Medical School has uncovered surprising insights into how infants exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) grow during their first year of life. Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the research challenges conventional views on obesity risk by showing that these infants experience slower fat gain compared to their peers.
The findings suggest that early growth patterns in babies exposed to GDM may adapt and self-correct more than previously understood, offering a more nuanced perspective on their long-term health risks. Contrary to earlier assumptions that GDM exposure predisposes infants to obesity, the study emphasizes the importance of monitoring growth rather than preemptively labeling them as at-risk.
Key Findings
According to Elizabeth Widen, the study’s corresponding author and an assistant professor of nutritional sciences at UT Austin, the research paints a “more complex picture” of GDM-exposed infants’ development.
“We often think that babies exposed to gestational diabetes will automatically be at higher risk for childhood obesity, but our findings show a more complex picture,” said Widen. “While these infants are born with more body fat, many seem to naturally balance out over time.”
Infants born to mothers with GDM were observed to have higher body fat levels at birth but displayed slower fat gain during their first year. This pattern, referred to as “catch-down growth,” is typically associated with heavier newborns who later align with standard growth trajectories.
Study Design
The study followed 198 infants, half of whom were exposed to GDM in utero. Researchers measured each baby’s weight, length, and body fat multiple times from birth to 12 months. Advanced statistical methods revealed three distinct growth trajectories, with GDM-exposed infants more likely to exhibit slower increases in fat mass and body fat percentage.
“Previous studies have not really looked at this critical first year of life with the kind of sensitive body fat measures we were able to use,” said Rachel Rickman, the study’s lead author and a former doctoral student of Widen.
Implications for Health and Policy
The study’s findings come as GDM affects approximately 8.3% of pregnancies in the U.S., a figure that has risen over the last two decades. While GDM increases the risk of pregnancy complications and long-term type 2 diabetes for mothers, the new research suggests that its impact on infants’ growth and obesity risk may be more nuanced than previously thought.
Patrick Catalano, a co-author from Harvard Medical School, emphasized the alignment of these results with broader trends. “These data are consistent with findings that treatment of mild GDM in pregnancy does not significantly reduce childhood obesity or metabolic issues in offspring.”
Looking Ahead
The study underscores the need for individualized monitoring of growth in infants exposed to GDM rather than blanket assumptions about their health outcomes. The researchers hope their findings will guide better early-life care practices and inform future studies on the long-term health trajectories of these infants.
The study, “Infant body composition trajectories differ by in utero exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus,” is available in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
For more details, visit The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
