Several studies have suggested antibiotic use, both during pregnancy and in early childhood, may be linked to various chronic conditions
ANTIBIOTICS are one of the miracles of modern medicine.
Millions of lives have been saved by the medications, which have revolutionized the treatment of fatal bacterial infections and enabled s.u.r.g.e.r.y.
A growing amount of data, however, indicates that early-life antibiotic use may have negative health effects, such as raising the risk of asthma and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease.
According to recent Finnish research, children who receive antibiotics during the first two years of their life are more likely to be obese by the time they enter primary school and never take them.
At the same time, childhood obesity rates are alarmingly increasing, making it a global public health concern.
The number of children and teenagers between the ages of five and nineteen who are overweight or obese has increased from 31 million in 1990 to over 390 million in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the UK, the trend is just as concerning.
Recent NHS figures from the 2023/24 school year suggest that 22 per cent of children aged 10 to 11 are considered obese.
But the risk of obesity is still not a reason to withhold antibiotics from a child if they genuinely need them – the benefits still outweigh the risks.
The new study examined the effects of antibiotic exposure from pregnancy to early childhood on children’s weight and was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2025 Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.
To do this, researchers analysed data from 33,095 born children using national health registers, medical records, and electronic growth charts.
Children who received antibiotics during their first two years of life had a higher body mass index (BMI) at the age of two and were 20% more likely to become obese by the age of twelve, according to research from the University of Oulu.
Early exposure to the medicines also raised the risk of becoming overweight by nine per cent.
They also found taking antibiotics during pregnancy was not linked to higher BMI or weight gain in children later on.
“Providers need to be cautious about prescribing antibiotics for young toddlers, especially unnecessary antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections,” Dr Sofia Ainonen, the study’s presenting author, said.
