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Child temperament does not predict adolescent body composition in girls
S E Anderson1, L G Bandini, A Must
1Gerald J and Dorothy R Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA. sarah.anderson@tufts.edu
International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|November 17, 2004
Summary
High activity temperament in childhood did not protect girls from increased body fat during adolescence. This longitudinal study found no evidence that temperament influences adiposity over time, even with declining physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Behavioral Science
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- Previous cross-sectional analysis suggested activity temperament relates to body composition and energy expenditure in girls.
- High activity temperament was linked to higher nonresting energy expenditure (NREE) and lower body fat in less active girls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that high activity temperament in childhood protects against adolescent adiposity, especially in girls with declining physical activity.
- To examine the longitudinal relationship between childhood activity temperament and body composition changes during adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 196 nonobese premenarcheal girls (8-12 years old) followed for an average of 7 years.
- Activity temperament assessed via maternal questionnaire; body composition by total body water and bioelectrical impedance (BIA).
- Physical activity assessed annually by questionnaire and at baseline by activity diary.
Main Results:
- Childhood activity temperament was not associated with percentage body fat at 4 years postmenarche in multivariate models.
- No significant differences in body composition were observed between girls with low and high activity temperaments reporting declining physical activity.
- Longitudinal analysis using BIA did not show high activity temperament to be associated with lower adiposity.
Conclusions:
- The hypothesis that high childhood activity temperament protects against prospective increases in adiposity during adolescence was not supported.
- Despite cross-sectional associations with lower body fat and higher NREE, activity temperament did not demonstrate a protective effect longitudinally.
- Findings suggest activity temperament, as measured, does not prospectively influence adiposity development in girls during adolescence.