The aim of a recently published review of earlier review studies in the journal Obesity Reviews was to review the evidence for early-life (from conception
to 5 years of age) determinants of obesity. Twenty-tow eligible reviews were identified. Although all included review studies were below high quality, the study was able to indetfy a range of potential determinants. Factors associated with later
overweight and obesity were: maternal diabetes, maternal smoking, rapid infant
growth, no or short breastfeeding, obesity in infancy, short sleep duration,
<30 min of daily physical activity, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Maternal smoking, breastfeeding, infant size and
growth, short sleep duration and television viewing were supported by the better quality reviews. Most evidence is based on cross sectional research and it is therefore difficult to establish a causal association between possible
determinants and obesity, and the relative importance of each determinant. Future
research should focus on early-life interventions to confirm the role of protective
and risk factors and to tackle the high burden obesity represents for present and
future generations. This review was conducted within the Health Promotion through Obesity Prevention in Europe (HOPE) study.
