Weight gain in infancy and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in a prospective birth cohort of Latino children

Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease among U.S. children. Early weight trajectories correlate with obesity, cardiometabolic syndrome, and MASLD in children born small for gestational age. Methods We evaluated whether increases in weight-for-age (WAZ) score from 0 to 6 months of life, are associated with MASLD in middle childhood, in two prospective birth cohorts of healthy Latino children ( n = 136). Results After adjusting for confounders, increases in WAZ score from 0 to 6 months of age were associated with a higher risk for MASLD in middle childhood (OR 1.54 95% CI, 1.01–2.36; p = 0.046). Conclusions In a prospective study of Latino children, increases in WAZ score from 0 to 6 months were associated with increased risk of MASLD in mid-childhood. This could inform early screening and counseling for MASLD.