Early-life antibiotic use and children with overweight and obesity: a Dutch twin cohort study
Authors' conclusion
These findings suggest that early-life antibiotic use is not associated with an increased risk of overweight or obesity in childhood.
Study context
- Population
- Twins aged 4.5–15.4 years, Netherlands Twin Register
- Participants
- 34,142 twins
- Exposure
- Early-life antibiotic use vs no use
- Outcome
- Overweight/obesity during childhood (sex- and age-specific BMI thresholds, International Obesity Task Force and WHO)
Methodological detailsco-twin control design in outcome-discordant pairs
- Co-twin control design in outcome-discordant pairs
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs no antibiotic useEstimate (95% CI)
Antibiotic use
OR (obesity) 0.82(0.60–1.14)
Antibiotic use
OR (overweight/obesity) 1.00(0.90–1.12)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Matched co-twin analyses
- Matched co-twin analyses showed similar null results
BMI Z-scores
- BMI Z-scores did not differ by antibiotic exposure
Prevalence
- Any antibiotic use before age 2
- 24.6%
- Obesity
- 1.06%
- Overweight/obesity
- 9.23%
Original publication
Early-life antibiotic use and children with overweight and obesity: a Dutch twin cohort study. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 15 July 2026. doi:10.
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