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16/01/2015

Rapid Weight Gain In Babies 'Can Increase Asthma Risk'

New research has claimed that babies who quickly gain weight during the first three months of life are more likely to develop asthma.

The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Bristol and published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that the illness can also persist into adolescence.

While many factors are said to be associated with an increased risk of asthma, the actual cause remains unknown. It has been claimed however, that events in early childhood could be linked to asthma, such as the rate of foetal growth or a low birth weight.

This research from the University of Bristol's Children of the 90s study, looked at information on height, weight and asthma symptoms in almost 10,000 people in the study, from various stages in their life – i.e. from birth to the age of 17.

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Of the 9,723 people studied, current asthma was reported for 13.9% reported current asthma at the age of eight, 13.2% at the age of 14 and 15.3% at the age of 17.

The study found that rapid weight gain in children – from birth to three months – was consistently associated with asthma at the ages of eight and 17. It was also associated with lower lung function and increased responsiveness of the airways, which are both signs of asthma.

In contrast, a rapid weight gain between three and seven years of age was associated with higher lung function at age 15.

Commenting on the findings, lead researcher, Dr Agnes Sonnenschein-van der Voort, said: "It is clear from our research that there is a connection between babies gaining weight quickly in the first three months of life and the risk of them developing asthma later on.

"We are not sure exactly what causes this but it may be that rapid weight gain leads to abnormal development of the lungs or the immune system. Further studies will be required to confirm these findings."

Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, added: "The relationship between birth weight and the development of asthma is unclear; while these new findings show that babies who gain weight quickly in the first three months of life may be at increased risk of developing asthma, it has also been recognised previously that babies born with a low birth weight are more likely to develop asthma later on in childhood.

"More research is needed to get a clearer picture of the connection between a baby's weight and their likelihood of developing asthma in later life."

(JP/CD)

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"New research has claimed that babies who quickly gain weight during the first three months of life are more likely to develop asthma."