1. Introduction More than 2 out of 3 adults and one third of children between 6 – 19 years of age are obese or overweight (1,2). Obese individuals accrued costs approximately 30% higher than their non-obese peers (3). Multiple growth-related processes may be involved in obesity risk for preterm children (4). Early Intervention to Prevent Obesity in Prematurely Born Children and Adolescents Apurv Barche PGY 1, Sudha P. Chennasamudram, Christopher Sheehan, Tetyana L. Vasylyeva Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo, Texas. Results The number of obese children increase with age in our cohort: 17.5% at 10 years as compared to 23.1% at 15 years of age (p=0.21) (Figure 1), what is above national average (Figure 3). Analysis of associated risk for maternal age, marital status, race, maternal substance abuse, diabetes, gestational weight category and birth weight did not show any statistically significant risk for the future obesity (Figure 2). Obese children have significantly higher weight at 24 months of age, compared to their Non obese peers (p<0.05). Objective Method A retrospective review of 160 charts was conducted to determine the associated risk of being overweight during childhood and adolescent period in preterm children. Birth weight, gestational age, weight gain, demographics, maternal health, socioeconomics and clinical factors during early neonatal life were evaluated. The results were calculated for t – test and Odds Ratio manually and using statistical calculator. Definitions: Obesity – Greater than 95 th percentile for weight during a clinic visit Prematurity as <37 weeks of gestation Large for Gestational Age (LGA) – Birth weight greater than 90 th percentile for gestational age Small for Gestational Age (SGA) – Birth weight less than 10 th percentile for gestational age Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) < 1000 g Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) < 1500g Low Birth Weight (LBW) < 2500g. Conclusions The most of maternal, neonatal and demographic factors were not associated with development of obesity in preterm born children. However there is a significant correlation between higher weights at 24 months of age between children who eventually developed obesity. A possible explanation could be overfeeding during the early period of life and consequent programming of different metabolic factors. Although larger scale studies are needed to confirm these findings, primary care pediatricians should draw attention to premature babies, overweight infants and toddlers. This is a phase where well child checks are more frequent and education regarding overfeeding early in life and subsequent obesity can be given and re-enforced as well. References 1.Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Ogden CL. Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among US adults, 1999–2010. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 2012; 307(5):491–97. 2.Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999–2010. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 2012; 307(5):483–90. 3.Withrow, D., & Alter, D. (2011). The Economic Burden of Obesity Worldwide: A Systematic Review. Obesity Reviews, 12(2), 131-141. 4.Gaskins, RB, LaGasse L, Liu J, et al. Small for Gestational Age and Higher Birth Weight Predict Childhood Obesity in Preterm Infants. American Journal of Perinatology 2010; 27(9): 721–730. 2012 Texas Pediatric Society Electronic Poster Contest Understanding associated risk for obesity is a prerequisite to develop early life interventions, to arrest the increasing epidemic of metabolic syndrome and obesity among preterm born children and adolescents.