Health Profile of Young Adults Born Preterm: Negative Effects of Rapid Weight Gain in Early Life

Introduction: Early postnatal weight gain is associated with determinants of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in adults born term. We aimed to investigate the association of weight gain during different periods, and weight trajectories in early life after preterm birth, with determinants of CVD and DM2 in early adulthood. Methods: Associations of first-year growth and tempo of weight gain with determinants of CVD and DM2 in 162 young adults (18–24 yr) born preterm (gestational age <36 wk) were determined and compared with data of young adults born term (n = 217). Results: Gain in weight for length in the period from preterm birth up to term age, and in the first 3 months after term age, was positively associated with body fat percentage and waist circumference at 21 yr. Gain in weight for length in the first 3 months after term age was also positively associated with total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in early adulthood. Subjects with the highes...