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Introduction This study examined postpartum depression, food insecurity, and underestimation of infant size as potential early life factors for overweight risk at 12 months among infants of Hispanic immigrant mothers. Method Weight-for-length (WFL) measurements and face-to-face interviews were completed during well child visits. Regression models estimated the impact of early life factors (0-6 months) on overweight risk at 1 year. Results WFL ≥ 85th percentile was found among 2.4% at birth and 42.7% at 1 year. Most mothers (78.6%) experienced food insecurity, a factor that increased the likelihood of infant overweight risk by 2.29 times (1.03–5.09). Maternal underestimation of infant size increased the likelihood of overweight risk 5.07 times (2.57–9.99). Postpartum depression risk did not contribute to infant weight status. Discussion Assessment for maternal food insecurity and underestimation of infant weight status during early infancy may help reduce overweight risk and subsequent obesity for this vulnerable population.

Introduction This study examined the association between early weight gain (0–6 months) and risk for overweight, as defined by the Institute of Medicine, at 1 year among infants of low-income Hispanic immigrant mothers. Method Weight-for-age data were extracted from electronic medical records of 335 infants with gestations of 37 weeks or longer and birthweights appropriate for gestational age and without medical problems likely to interfere with growth or feeding. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine the impact of early weight changes on weight status at 1 year. Results By 12 months, 36.7% of infants had crossed weight-for-age of 84.1% or greater on World Health Organization growth charts. In adjusted models, infants had 20.8 (95% confidence interval = [19.8, 44.0]) times the odds of reaching this benchmark at 1 year for each z score increase at 0 to 6 months. Discussion The study highlights a time-sensitive opportunity for interventions to reduce risk for overweight for this vulnerable population.

This study examined postpartum depression (PPD) as a potential risk factor for non-adherence to infant feeding guidelines and subsequent infant weight gain.Participants were mother-infant dyads from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (N = 1447). Main study variables were PPD, breastfeeding intensity, addition of cereal to infant formula, and age of introduction to solid foods.In logistic models adjusted for sociodemographic factors, mothers with PPD were 1.57 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16, 2.13) more likely to breastfeed at low intensity and 1.77 times (95% CI: 1.16, 2.68) more likely to add cereal to infant formula. Although PPD was associated with the early introduction to solid foods (odds ratio: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.89), this relationship was not significant after adjusting for potential confounders. A small but significantly greater average weight gain at 6 months was observed among infants of mothers with PPD (10.15 lb, SD = 2.32 vs. 9.85 lb, SD = 2.32).Screening for PPD at well-child visits may lead to improved maternal health outcomes and the prevention of early life risk factors for childhood obesity.