Infant infections tied to later obesity
Researchers separate the effects of early illness from antimicrobial treatment in a large California cohort study.
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By
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Doug Brunk
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August 25, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Infant infections tied to later obesity
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Infant infections |
| Key Mechanisms | Association between medically attended infections in infancy and later obesity, particularly with increased frequency of infections. |
| Target Population | Children born from 2008 through 2012 in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health system. |
| Care Setting | Pediatric healthcare settings |
Key Highlights
- Children with infections requiring medical care during infancy had higher odds of obesity at ages 4 to 6 and 10 to 15.
- Obesity rates increased with the number of infections: 20% with no infections, 24% with untreated infections, and 27% with treated infections.
- Children with more than three infections had 30% higher odds of obesity at ages 10 to 15.
- Antimicrobial treatment was not significantly linked to increased obesity risk.
- Most infections were viral, particularly upper respiratory infections, bronchiolitis, and ear infections.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Obesity defined as a body mass index above the 95th percentile for age and sex.
Management
- Monitor weight and obesity risk in children with a history of medically attended infections.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Regular weight measurements and assessments of obesity risk factors.
Risks
- Increased odds of obesity associated with the frequency of infections in infancy.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Children with a history of infections requiring medical care during infancy.
Antimicrobial treatment did not show a significant increase in obesity risk.
Clinical Best Practices
- Consider the history of infections when assessing obesity risk in pediatric patients.
- Encourage monitoring of weight in children with frequent infections.
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