INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INFANT TEMPERAMENT AND LATER BODY-COMPOSITION

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of maternally-rated infant tempe rament to predict fatness and activity patterns in early childhood. DE SIGN: Longitudinal investigation of infants studied at 12 weeks and fo llowed up at 2-3.5 y of age. SUBJECTS: Thirty healthy full-term infant s from the general population. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition, behavio ural activity and temperament at 12 weeks; anthropometry, body composi tion, diet and behavioural activity at follow-up. RESULTS: Infant temp erament predicted later behaviour and fatness. Easily soothable infant s had leaner childhood skinfold thicknesses (P<0.02) and were more act ive in childhood (P<0.025). Infant distress was also related to childh ood diet composition. CONCLUSIONS: Infant temperament can predict late r body composition and behaviour. Both energy intake and energy expend iture may be mechanisms by which the relationship develops.