Context: Early growth is associated with childhood adiposity, but the influence of lifestyle remains unknown. Objective: This work aimed to investigate the association of growth profiles from high-risk pregnancies with adiposity at age 5 years, taking into account lifestyle and several antenatal/postnatal exposures. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 609 children born during the Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study (RADIEL), recruiting women with body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 and/or prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (2008-2013). Altogether 332 children attended the 5-year follow-up (2014-2017). Main outcome measures included growth profiles based on ponderal index (PI = weight/height(3)), investigated using latent class mixed models. Adiposity was assessed with anthropometrics and body composition (InBody720). Results: We identified 3 growth profiles: ascending (n = 82), intermediate (n = 351), and descending (n = 149). Children with ascending growth had a higher body fat percentage, ISO-BMI, and waist circumference (P Conclusion: Accelerated early growth was associated with higher adiposity in 5-year-old children from high-risk pregnancies, even when adjusted for lifestyle. Reducing cesarean deliveries and promoting breastfeeding may be beneficial for postnatal growth.Peer reviewe
