B4561 - Association of birth weight centiles with infant and childhood growth dynamics - 18/03/2024

B number: 
B4561
Principal applicant name: 
Ahmed Elhakeem | MRC IEU
Co-applicants: 
Title of project: 
Association of birth weight centiles with infant and childhood growth dynamics
Proposal summary: 

The fetal and developmental origins of disease hypothesis suggests that pre-conception (maternal and paternal) and intrauterine (maternal) prenatal factors can influence postnatal health, including growth and adiposity. Birth weight is a marker of intrauterine growth and has been associated with risk of overweight and obesity, as have preterm birth, and small and large for gestational age. To the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated the association between continuous birthweight (for gestational age) centiles beyond the traditional thresholds for small or large for gestational age and longitudinal growth throughout infancy and childhood. This study will address this evidence gap.

Impact of research: 
This will provide evidence on growth patterns based on birth size at a given gestational age. It will use novel growth modelling methods that will be valuable to researchers
Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 6 March, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 18 March, 2024
Keywords: 
Epidemiology, Obesity, Pregnancy - e.g. reproductive health, postnatal depression, birth outcomes, etc., Statistical methods, BMI, Cohort studies - attrition, bias, participant engagement, ethics, Growth