Intake of energy and protein is associated with overweight risk at age 5.5 years: Results from the prospective TEDDY study

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the associations of energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat intake with weight status up to the age of 5.5 years in the prospective TEDDY study. METHODS: Food record data (3 days) and body mass index (BMI) measurements between 0.25 and 5.5 years were available from 5,563 children with increased genetic risk for type 1 diabetes followed from shortly after birth. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for overweight and obesity by previous intake of energy, protein, carbohydrates and fat with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: Overweight and obesity at the age of 5.5 years were positively associated with mean energy intake in previous age intervals (e.g. adjusted OR [95% confidence interval] for overweight: 1.06 [1.04, 1.09] per 100 kcal intake at the age of 4.5–5.0 years), and with protein intake after the age of 3.5 and 4.5 years, respectively (e. g. adjusted OR for overweight: 1.06 [1.03, 1.09] per 1 % of energy intake at the age of 4.5–5.0 years). The respective associations with carbohydrate and fat intake were less consistent. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that energy and protein intake are positively associated with increased risk for overweight in childhood, but yield no evidence for potential programming effects of protein intake in infancy.