4. Infant rapid weight gain as a risk factor for becoming an overweight child.

Research has shown that rapid weight gain in infancy is the strongest predictor of a child becoming overweight. Crossing just one centile for weight during the first year of life is associated with fourfold increase in the risk of overweight or obesity in childhood.

Clinically, rapid infant weight gain is defined as crossing two or more centile bands. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health states children meeting this criterion should be carefully assessed. However, not all local Infant Feeding Policies include guidance for healthcare professionals to help them manage rapid weight gain in routine practice and where there this is the case healthcare professionals will need to use their clinical judgement to support parents.

In addition, infants already at the top of the centile charts (>90th centile) should be carefully assessed by healthcare professionals to determine overweight risk. This could include assessing whether the infant is already overweight and offering advice and support to parents.