Related Experiment Videos
The relationship between components of infant energy expenditure and childhood body fatness
J C Wells1, M Stanley, A S Laidlaw
1Infant and Child Nutrition Group, Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, Australia.
Insights
Infant energy expenditure does not predict childhood fatness. However, infant body fatness is a strong predictor of later fatness and influences childhood activity patterns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric nutrition
- Childhood obesity
- Human physiology
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding early life factors influencing fatness is crucial for prevention.
- The relationship between infant energy expenditure and later fatness requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if infant energy expenditure components relate to childhood fatness.
- To examine if infant fatness predicts childhood variables.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 30 healthy infants from 12 weeks to 2.5-3.5 years.
- Measured sleeping metabolic rate, total energy expenditure, anthropometry, and behavior at 12 weeks.
- Assessed anthropometry, body composition, and behavior at follow-up.
Main Results:
- Infant energy expenditure (metabolism, total expenditure, physical activity, behavior) showed no correlation with later fatness.
- Infant fatness (skinfold thickness, body fat percentage) strongly predicted childhood fatness.
- Infant fatness also predicted childhood behavior patterns.
Conclusions:
- The theory linking reduced infant energy expenditure to later fatness is not supported by these findings.
- Infant body fatness is a significant determinant of both future fatness and activity levels in childhood.
Objective:
To investigate whether any component of infant energy expenditure is related to fatness in early childhood, and whether infant fatness is related to childhood variables.
Design:
Longitudinal investigation of infants studied at 12 weeks and followed up at 2.5 to 3.5 years of age.
Subjects:
30 healthy full-term infants selected from the general population.
Measurements:
Sleeping metabolic rate, total energy expenditure, anthropometry and behaviour at 12 weeks; anthropometry, body composition and behaviour in follow-up.
Results:
Energy expenditure at 12 weeks (minimal metabolism, total energy expenditure, energy expended on physical activity, behaviour) showed no relationship with later fatness. Infant fatness (skinfold thicknesses and percentage fat) showed in contrast a strong relationship with childhood fatness. Infant fatness also predicted childhood behaviour.
Conclusions:
These data do not support the theory that reduced energy expenditure in early infancy is related to later fatness. However, infant fatness influences both later fatness and activity patterns.