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Physical activity at 9-12 months and fatness at 2 years of age
1Childhood Nutrition Research Group, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.
Insights
Infant behavior, not total energy expenditure, predicts childhood subcutaneous fatness. Lower infant activity levels correlate with greater skinfold thickness later in childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Development
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Physical activity in early infancy doesn't predict later fatness.
- A relationship between physical activity and fatness emerges in preschool children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if total energy expenditure (TEE) and behavior in late infancy relate to subcutaneous and total fatness in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-six infants were assessed at 9-12 months and followed up at 2 years.
- Measurements included anthropometry, body composition, TEE, and behavior in infancy.
- Skinfold thicknesses and total body fat were measured at 2 years of age.
Main Results:
- Infant TEE adjusted for fat-free mass did not predict later fatness.
- Infant behavior was linked to later subcutaneous fatness, but not total body fatness.
- Lower infant activity levels correlated with greater childhood skinfold thicknesses.
Conclusions:
- By late infancy, physical activity level predicts subsequent skinfold thickness.
- Specific infant behaviors are more influential than overall energy expenditure on activity.
- The observed relationship did not extend to total body fat.
Abstract:
Previous research has shown that physical activity in early infancy does not predict later fatness, whereas in preschool children, such a relationship is found. The objective of this study was to investigate whether total energy expenditure (TEE) and behavior in late infancy are related to subcutaneous and total fatness in early childhood. Twenty-six infants were studied at 9-12 months and followed up at 2 years of age. Anthropometry, body composition, TEE, and behavior were measured in late infancy; skinfold thicknesses and total body fat were measured at 2 years of age. Infant TEE adjusted for fat-free mass was not related to later fatness. Infant behavior was related to later subcutaneous fatness, but not to total body fatness. Lower levels of infant activity were associated with greater skinfold thicknesses in childhood. Thus, by late infancy, physical activity level is related to subsequent skinfold thickness. Particular aspects of infant behavior appear to be more important than the sum of energy expended on activity. However, the relationship did not extend to total body fat.