Antibiotics and children

Infants given antibiotics may face an increased risk for obesity.

In a study of 11,000 young children, researchers looked at their weight and antibiotic use throughout childhood.

They found those given antibiotics between birth and five months were 20% more likely to be overweight by the time they turned three.

Experts say this doesn’t prove antibiotics cause obesity, but it suggests the bacteria in our gut may be permanently changed if exposed to antibiotics early in life.