RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEHAVIOR AND ENERGY-EXPENDITURE IN 12-WEEK-OLD INFANTS

In order to apply current international recommendations of basing ener gy requirements on energy expenditures (FAO/WHO/UNU [1985] Energy and Protein Requirements WHO: Geneva) to infants, it is first necessary to ascertain which aspects of infant physical activity significantly inf luence energy expenditure. The relationship between behavioral activit y and energy expenditure was, therefore, investigated in 12 week infan ts. Behavior was assessed using activity diaries, temperament question naires, and actometers. Total energy expenditure and the energy cost o f physical activity were estimated using the doubly labelled water met hod and indirect calorimetry. Certain aspects of behavior correlated s ignificantly with the energy cost of physical activity. Behavior thus exerts a significant effect on energy expenditure in 12 week infants. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.