TY - JOUR T1 - Excess weight gain in the first 18 months of life is associated with later childhood overweight, obesity and greater arterial wall thickness JF - Evidence Based Nursing JO - Evid Based Nurs SP - 85 LP - 85 DO - 10.1136/eb-2013-101500 VL - 17 IS - 3 AU - Nicolas Stettler AU - Madeleine Baumann Y1 - 2014/07/01 UR - http://ebn.bmj.com/content/17/3/85.abstract N2 - Commentary on: Skilton MR, Marks GB, Ayer JG, et al. Weight gain in infancy and vascular risk factors in later childhood. Pediatrics 2013;131:e1821–8.OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text The association between early postnatal weight gain and later childhood obesity suggests that programmes providing culturally tailored, universal, affordable or free support to families of newborns and infants are essential. Nursing care should emphasise the importance of optimal, rather than maximal, infant growth. Nursing research, in particular qualitative methods, could strengthen understanding of infant feeding practices and theory-based behaviour modification research could explore non-judgemental and culturally tailored interventions. Ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death globally with a rapidly increasing incidence in low and intermediate income countries.1 Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. As IUGR prevention is difficult to achieve, the … ER -