Nature and Nurture in Early Feeding Behavior
Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop Series
|April 19, 2016
Summary
Infant appetite significantly influences weight gain, suggesting a causal link to childhood obesity risk. This research highlights the importance of early life factors in weight management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Obesity is a growing epidemic, necessitating early life prevention strategies.
- Infant appetite is a potential predictor of obesity risk, yet research in this area is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between infant appetite and weight trajectories.
- To explore genetic and environmental influences on early childhood weight.
- To examine the causal role of appetite in weight development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Gemini twin cohort, collecting questionnaire data from 8 months of age.
- Conducted prospective analyses of infant appetite and weight gain.
- Employed twin studies (discordant for appetite) to control for familial confounding.
- Performed multivariate analyses to assess shared genetic factors.
Main Results:
- Infant appetite was found to be a stronger driver of weight gain than vice versa.
- A causal role for appetite in weight development was suggested, independent of familial factors.
- Heritability estimates for appetitive traits ranged from moderate to high (53-84%).
- Approximately one-third of genes influencing weight also affect appetite, and vice versa.
Conclusions:
- Early life appetite is a critical factor in infant weight gain and future obesity risk.
- Genetic factors play a significant role in appetitive traits and their overlap with weight regulation.
- Further research into environmental influences on infant appetite is warranted for targeted interventions.
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