Nutritional Influences on Early Childhood Growth

Early childhood represents a critical window during which nutrient intake exerts lasting effects on physical growth, body composition and metabolic trajectories. Adequate energy and macronutrient balance supports linear growth and organ development, while essential micronutrients such as iron, iodine and zinc underpin neurocognitive maturation and immune competence. Both under- and overnutrition in the first two years of life can programme future health: insufficient intake leads to stunting and impaired neurodevelopment, whereas excessive protein or sugar exposure may accelerate adiposity rebound and elevate obesity risk. Emerging evidence highlights the interplay between feeding modality, dietary patterns and hormonal mediators—particularly the somatotropic axis—in shaping growth velocity. Globally, efforts to optimise infant and toddler nutrition through promotion of breastfeeding, context-specific complementary feeding guidelines and micronutrient fortification aim to reduce disparities in growth outcomes and curb the double burden of malnutrition.

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Nutritional Influences on Early Childhood Growth publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutritional influences on early childhood growth across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Body mass index (BMI) trajectory: The pattern of BMI change over time, reflecting growth and adiposity trends.

Complementary feeding: Introduction of solid and semi-solid foods alongside breast milk or formula, typically starting around six months of age.

Micronutrient: Dietary vitamins and minerals required in small quantities to support metabolic processes and development.

Adiposity rebound: The normal age at which BMI reaches its lowest point before increasing again, with earlier rebound linked to higher obesity risk.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1): A hormone mediating the effects of growth hormone, integral to cell proliferation and linear growth in early life.

References

1. Breastfeeding and the Longitudinal Changes of Body Mass Index in Childhood and Adulthood: A Systematic Review. Advances in Nutrition (2023).
2. Food and nutrient intake at 1 year of age in Northern Sweden: results from the Swedish NICE birth cohort. Frontiers in Nutrition (2025).
3. A meat- or dairy-based complementary diet leads to distinct growth patterns in formula-fed infants: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2018).
4. High beverage sugar as well as high animal protein intake at infancy may increase overweight risk at 8 years: a prospective longitudinal pilot study. Nutrition Journal (2011).