Growth spurts in early childhood could cause obesity, according to researchers at the University of Glasgow.
They reveal that added growth in early life can cause a metabolic rate in adults 20% faster than if the individual had grown more steadily.
It is the first time a study has shown that early growth patterns could cause long-term differences in metabolic rate.
The findings are published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Researchers compared the metabolic rates of Zebra Finches who had been fed a regular protein diet with finches who had been switched from a low to high protein diet halfway through their period of growth.
"Our risk of becoming obese or getting various metabolic or cardiovascular diseases when we are adults is linked to our earliest years"
Prof Neil Metcalfe, from the University of Glasgow, said the improvement in diet early in life caused a change in metabolism as well as a short-lived spurt in growth.
He added: "The metabolic difference might be produced by a change in the size or functioning of key organs in the body, which would have long-term consequences.
"Metabolism has long been believed to affect the likelihood of obesity in humans.
"It is now becoming increasingly clear that our risk of becoming obese or getting various metabolic or cardiovascular diseases when we are adults is linked to our earliest years."
The study conducted by researchers in the University of Glasgow's Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences and Veterinary School was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.
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