New research presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2025 Meeting has raised important concerns:
Taking antibiotics in the first two years of life is linked to a higher risk of childhood obesity.

🧪 Key Findings from the Study

• Children exposed to antibiotics before age two had:
  • Higher BMI by 0.067 (adjusted for age and sex)
  • 9% greater risk of becoming overweight
  • 20% greater risk of becoming obese compared to children not exposed
• No link was found between childhood BMI and antibiotic use before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or at birth.

This research followed 33,095 vaginally born children in Finland and tracked their BMI at ages 2 and 12 years.

⚠️ Why This Matters

The lead researcher from the University of Oulu in Finland emphasized:

“Antibiotic exposure in the first two years of life has a stronger association with childhood weight gain than exposure during pregnancy stages or other early ages.”

Since childhood obesity is a growing global health challenge, with over 159 million school-aged children affected in 2022, this study suggests that prescribing antibiotics carefully during early life is crucial.

👩‍⚕️ What Doctors and Parents Should Consider

✅ Be cautious while prescribing antibiotics for toddlers under two years old.
✅ Avoid unnecessary antibiotics, especially for mild infections like upper respiratory tract infections.
✅ Educate parents about the potential long-term risks of early antibiotic use.
✅ Encourage practices that support a healthy gut microbiome early in life.

📈 The Bigger Picture

While antibiotics are life-saving when truly needed, their overuse in young children could be a hidden contributor to the growing rates of childhood overweight and obesity.

This new study highlights the importance of careful antibiotic prescribing as part of a broader strategy to prevent childhood obesity and promote long-term health.

✅ Final Thoughts

Antibiotics should only be prescribed for children under two when necessary.
Healthcare providers must balance the immediate benefits of antibiotic therapy against the potential long-term risks, like increased obesity risk.

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