Infants: Fat From Antibiotics?

All content is checked by medical journalists.

MunichProblematic genes, big appetite, little exercise - there are many reasons for childhood obesity. US researchers have now found another trigger for love handles in the offspring: antibiotics. According to this, toddlers who were treated with antibiotics in infancy were later more likely to be overweight than their peers who were not given antibiotics as babies.

Popular antibiotics

Antibiotics are used more sparingly today than they were a few years ago - the reason is the worrying number of rising resistances. Even so, infants often continue to receive broad-spectrum antibiotics. And that not only harbors the risk of developing resistance, but also apparently increases the likelihood of obesity in small children, a research team led by Charles Bailey from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found out.

Lots of antibiotics, more weight

For the study, the scientists used data from 64,580 infants and toddlers up to the age of five who were regularly presented to the hospital between 2001 and 2013. 69 percent of the young patients received antibiotics up to the age of two. On average, each of these children went through 2 therapy cycles. A comparison between antibiotic use and weight showed a connection with later obesity: the more often antibiotics were administered to an infant, the higher the risk of becoming fat in infancy. And by eleven percent if they received at least four antibiotic cures up to the age of 24 months and even by 16 percent if they were treated four times or more with a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

This mechanism could be due to an altered microbial colonization of the intestine, which ultimately also has an impact on the metabolism and thus on weight.

Rethink the use of antibiotics

"The repeated use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic is associated with a high risk of later obesity," the researchers conclude. Since antibiotics with a broad spectrum of activity would still be prescribed too often, the use of antibiotics with a narrow spectrum could also benefit obesity prevention. Because chubby children often turn into pound adults. (jb)

Source: Bailey C. et al .: Association of Antibiotics in Infancy With Early Childhood Obesity, JAMA Pediatrics; 17.10.2014.

Tags:  teenager fitness desire to have children