Antibiotic Exposure in Infancy May Lead to Overweight Toddlers

Exposure to antibiotics early in life may alter the intestinal microbiota, change human metabolism, and increase the risk for obesity. To further examine this possible link, researchers analyzed the effect of antibiotic exposure between birth and age 24 months on weight and height gain in 12,000 healthy children attending child welfare clinics in Finland.

The primary study outcomes were weight and height measured at the first primary care visit after age 24 months. Analyses were stratified by age at first exposure to antibiotics (birth to 5 months, 6–11 months, 12–17 months, or 18–23 months), type of antibiotics, and single versus repeat exposure. Perinatal factors that might interfere with growth in children were included as covariates in a…