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Energy expenditure in early infancy and later body fatness
1Infant and Child Nutrition Group, MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Insights
Total energy expenditure in infants at 12 weeks was not linked to later body fatness. This study found no relationship between early energy expenditure and childhood obesity development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Infant body composition and energy expenditure are critical for long-term health.
- Previous research suggested a link between reduced energy expenditure and obesity development in specific populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between total energy expenditure in early infancy and subsequent body composition.
- To determine if early metabolic rate predicts later obesity risk in normal, full-term infants.
Main Methods:
- Total energy expenditure was measured in 33 infants at 12 weeks using the doubly labeled water technique.
- Energy expenditure data were correlated with body composition indices (Quetelet's index, skinfold measurements) at 9 months and 2 years.
- Analyses considered energy expenditure normalized for body weight, body weight to the power of 0.5, and fat-free mass.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation was found between total energy expenditure at 12 weeks and later measures of body fatness.
- The highest correlation coefficient observed was 0.09, indicating a negligible relationship.
- These findings contradict recent reports suggesting a link between reduced energy expenditure and obesity in certain groups.
Conclusions:
- Early life total energy expenditure does not appear to be a predictor of later body composition or obesity risk in normal, full-term infants.
- The study challenges the hypothesis that reduced energy expenditure in infancy is a universal precursor to obesity.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex factors influencing infant obesity development.
Abstract:
Total energy expenditure was measured in a cohort of 33 normal, full term infants at 12 weeks of age using the doubly labelled water technique. These data were related to Quetelet's index and the sum of the triceps and subscapular skinfold measurements at 9 months and 2 years of age. Correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationship between total energy expenditure and later indices of body composition. Total energy expenditure was expressed as kcal/kg per day; kcal/kg0.5 per day (in order to negate the effect of body weight) and kcal/kg fat free mass per day (in order to take into account body composition). Using this approach there was no relationship between the level of total energy expenditure at 12 weeks of age and later indices of body fatness. The highest correlation coefficient being 0.09 (n = 33, P greater than 0.10). These findings are contrary to recent reports that a reduced total energy expenditure is related to the development of obesity in certain selected groups of individuals.