Health and Disability

I was shocked to learn that by age 24 months, 10% of children are obese. We have learnt through research that there are several factors associated with childhood obesity such as maternal prepregnancy body mass index, nutritional intake, physical activity, sleep duration and screen time. All these have been identified by the Institute of Medicine.

A new and emerging risk factor is the role of intestinal microflora that may be associated with obesity. Our guts are populated or colonized if you will, by good bacteria. The kind of bacterial flora that lives in our guts is influenced by dietary and environmental factors. Different bacteria vary by their ability to extract energy and as a result these patterns of bacterial colonization can influence growth. This also can influence energy metabolism in our body. Previous studies have shown that intestinal microflora are associated with obesity in later life and that antibiotic exposure influences the microbial variability and composition. The question then remains whether there is an influence of antibiotic use on early childhood obesity?

An increased risk of obesity was associated with greater antibiotic use, especially for children with four or more exposures, when all antibiotics or only broad-spectrum antibiotics were examined.

For a broader and deeper view of research on the effects of antibiotics on health, see Missing Microbes.