THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPONENTS OF INFANT ENERGY-EXPENDITURE AND CHILDHOOD BODY FATNESS

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether any component of infant energy expen diture is related to fatness in early childhood, and whether infant fa tness is related to childhood variables. DESIGN: Longitudinal investig ation of infants studied at 12 weeks and followed up at 2.5 to 3.5 yea rs of age. SUBJECTS: 30 healthy full-term infants selected from the ge neral population. MEASUREMENTS: Sleeping metabolic rate, total energy expenditure, anthropometry and behaviour at 12 weeks; anthropometry, b ody composition and behaviour in follow-up. RESULTS: Energy expenditur e at 12 weeks (minimal metabolism, total energy expenditure, energy ex pended on physical activity, behaviour) showed no relationship with la ter fatness. Infant fatness (skinfold thicknesses and percentage fat) showed in contrast a strong relationship with childhood fatness. Infan t fatness also predicted childhood behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: These data do not support the theory that reduced energy expenditure In early inf ancy is related to later fatness. However, infant fatness influences b oth later fatness and activity patterns.