A new study reveals a significant association between early antibiotic use and higher body mass index (BMI) in childhood. The research, which will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2025 Meeting in Honolulu, suggests that children exposed to antibiotics in the first two years of life may be at an increased risk for weight gain.
The study found that children who were exposed to antibiotics in their first two years of life had a 0.067 higher BMI, adjusted for age and sex, compared to those who were not exposed. Additionally, these children had a 9% greater risk of being overweight and a 20% greater risk of being obese than their unexposed peers.
Interestingly, the research found no significant correlation between BMI and antibiotic use before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or at birth.
Antibiotic prescriptions for young children are common. According to the researchers, the majority of children are prescribed antibiotics within their first two years. Approximately one-fourth of children are exposed to antibiotics during pregnancy, and one-third during vaginal birth. However, the study highlights that antibiotic exposure during the first two years of life has a more pronounced effect on childhood weight gain than exposure during pregnancy or infancy.
Dr. Sofia Ainonen, MD, PhD, a medical doctor at the University of Oulu in Finland and the study’s presenting author, emphasized the need for caution when prescribing antibiotics to toddlers. “Providers need to be cautious about prescribing antibiotics for young toddlers, especially unnecessary antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections,” she said.
Childhood obesity is a growing global challenge. In 2022, over 159 million school-aged children were diagnosed with obesity. The study, which followed 33,095 vaginally born children in Finland, investigated the relationship between antibiotic use before pregnancy, during the perinatal period, and after birth, with higher BMI at ages two and twelve.
As childhood obesity continues to rise, the study underscores the importance of understanding the potential long-term effects of antibiotic use in early childhood and its role in weight gain.
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