Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract only checked★ key study I-ABX-04 in-depth review
Early antibiotics and childhood overweight (meta-analysis 2023)
Early-life exposure to antibiotics and excess body weight in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Overview
Chagas AP et al.. Obes Res Clin Pract 2023 · PMID 37573229 · DOI 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.07.001
A small association (about 9-10% higher odds) was found, but certainty was very low.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Pool cohort studies.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
42 studies.
- What was actually found?
Small association.
- How large was the observed effect?
OR 1.09; 4+ courses 1.31.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Possible small effect.
- What are the study's limitations?
Very low certainty.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Weakly supports.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Causation.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Chagas AP et al.
- Journal
- Obes Res Clin Pract
- Year
- 2023
- Identifier
- PMID 37573229 DOI 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.07.001
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors of the manuscript entitled ‘Early-life exposure to antibiotics and excess body weight in childhood and adolescence: a systematic review and meta-analysis’ and whose names are listed immediately below certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial intere
2. Research question
Early-life antibiotics and overweight/obesity
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Meta-analysis – Systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies (PROSPERO-registered, GRADE)
- Population
Children and adolescents
- Country
Multinational
- Period
to August 2022
- Sample size
42 studies (28 pooled)
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Cohort studies
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Antenatal/postnatal antibiotics
- Comparator
Unexposed
- Endpoints
Overweight/obesity
- Statistical methods
Random effects; GRADE
5. Actual results
- Results
Antenatal OR 1.10 (1.04-1.16; very low certainty); postnatal OR 1.09 (1.05-1.12; very low certainty); 1 course OR 1.07 (1.00-1.15); >=4 courses OR 1.31 (1.17-1.46).
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Association, but very low certainty; need studies addressing confounding.
6. Strengths
- GRADE
- Registered
7. Weaknesses
- Observational primary studies
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- AMSTAR 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Small ORs.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
C-ABX-05 (mixed).
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Moderate.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Certainty very low.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | high |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |