Early-life antibiotic exposure and the risk of overweight and obesity in children
Early-life antibiotics have been associated with childhood overweight and obesity. We investigated how the timing of early-life antibiotic exposure is associated with childhood overweight and obesity. Antibiotic exposure in the first two years of life was associated with overweight and obesity. No similar associations were found with antibiotic exposure before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or in the perinatal period. Interventions aiming to reduce obesity-associated effects should focus on the first two years of life.
Authors
- Tytti Pokka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5488-5885)
- Sofia Ainonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1417-3589)
- Marika Paalanne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1626-9410)
- Minna Honkila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8288-9442)
- Niko Paalanne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7563-6466)
- Eveliina Ronkainen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4742-0710)
- Terhi Ruuska-Loewald
- Eero Kajantie
Institutions
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
- Oulu University Hospital (FI)
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (FI)
- Oulu University of Applied Sciences (FI)
- University of Oulu (FI)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pediatric Research
- Published
- 2026-03-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-026-04841-8
- Primary Topic
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Suomen Lääketieteen Säätiö
- Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö
- Oulun Yliopisto