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Investigation of the relationship between infant temperament and later body composition
J C Wells1, M Stanley, A S Laidlaw
1Infant and Child Nutrition Group, Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge.
Insights
Infant temperament, like ease of soothing, can predict a child's future body composition and activity levels. This suggests early behavioral traits influence long-term health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Pediatric Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Infant temperament is a key area of developmental research.
- Understanding early predictors of childhood health is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if infant temperament predicts childhood fatness and activity.
- To explore the relationship between early behavioral traits and later physical health.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study followed 30 infants from 12 weeks to 2-3.5 years.
- Data collected included infant temperament, body composition, and behavioral activity.
- Follow-up measurements included anthropometry, body composition, diet, and activity levels.
Main Results:
- Maternally-rated infant temperament significantly predicted later childhood fatness and activity.
- Easily soothable infants showed leaner skinfold thicknesses and higher activity levels.
- Infant distress correlated with childhood diet composition.
Conclusions:
- Early infant temperament is a reliable predictor of later body composition and behavior.
- Energy intake and expenditure are potential mediating factors in this relationship.
- Temperament may influence long-term health trajectories through behavioral and metabolic pathways.
Objective:
To investigate the ability of maternally-rated infant temperament to predict fatness and activity patterns in early childhood.
Design:
Longitudinal investigation of infants studied at 12 weeks and followed up at 2-3.5 y of age.
Subjects:
Thirty healthy full-term infants from the general population.
Measurements:
Body composition, behavioural activity and temperament at 12 weeks; anthropometry, body composition, diet and behavioural activity at follow-up.
Results:
Infant temperament predicted later behaviour and fatness. Easily soothable infants had leaner childhood skinfold thicknesses (P < 0.02) and were more active in childhood (P < 0.025). Infant distress was also related to childhood diet composition.
Conclusions:
Infant temperament can predict later body composition and behaviour. Both energy intake and energy expenditure may be mechanisms by which the relationship develops.