Infants With Low Birth Weight Have Larger Adipocytes During Early Childhood
Authors' conclusion
During early childhood, infants with low birth weight had larger adipocytes than infants born appropriate for gestational age at term. Further studies are required to determine whether this observation is associated with insulin resistance development later in life.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 0.8–5.2 years scheduled for surgery; adipose tissue samples obtained intraoperatively
- Participants
- 92 children
- Exposure
- Low birth weight vs appropriate for gestational age at full-term
- Low birth weightn = 15
- Term appropriate-for-gestational-agen = 77reference
- Outcome
- Mean adipocyte diameter
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
early childhood
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Determinants of mean adipocyte diameter (multiple regression)
- Low birth weight and higher BMI at surgery were significant determinants of larger mean adipocyte diameter
- P < 0.001
Association with haematological parameters
- Mean adipocyte diameter not associated with haematological parameters, incl. insulin, adiponectin and leptin
Original publication
Infants With Low Birth Weight Have Larger Adipocytes During Early Childhood. Pediatr Obes. Published 12 June 2026. doi:10.
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