Infant social withdrawal and rapid infant weight gain
Main finding · RIWGResult — go to the resultAdjusted odds ratio 1.19 95% CI 1.03–1.37Authors' conclusion
We found an association between infant social withdrawal and subsequent rapid infant weight gain independently of an array of known risk factors, which may expand our understanding of the developmental origins of excess weight gain and its association with early childhood mental health.
Study context
- Population
- Children born 2015–19 in Copenhagen; data from health visitors' records linked to register data
- Participants
- 12,468 children
- Exposure
- Infant social withdrawal vs no signs of social withdrawal
- Outcome
- Rapid infant weight gain (RIWG)
Methodological detailsregister-linked, multivariate logistic regression
- Register-linked
- Multivariate logistic regression
Main finding
RIWG
Adjusted odds ratio
1.19
95% CI 1.03–1.37
P = 0.017
Social withdrawalvs No social withdrawal
aOR 1.19 (95% CI 1.03–1.37); P = 0.017
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Other factors associated with rapid infant weight gain (RIWG)
- RIWG more likely among boys, firstborns, children born SGA, and those whose mothers smoked during pregnancy or had higher pre-pregnancy BMI
- Higher birth weight and breastfeeding >4 months were protective
- No associations with maternal postpartum depression, low education, parental labor market status or maternal age
Original publication
Infant social withdrawal and rapid infant weight gain. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 22 December 2025. doi:10.
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