Weight Gain in Early Infancy Impacts Appetite Regulation in the First Year of Life. A Prospective Study of Infants Living in Cyprus

BACKGROUND

Eating behavior is associated with weight gain in infancy and childhood. Few studies found a bidirectional association between weight gain and eating behavior development in childhood, but there is little data on the association in early infancy, a period critical for the programming of obesity risk.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the bidirectional association between appetite traits and weight gain during the first year of life.

METHODS

Participants were part of a cohort of 432 infants born in Cyprus. Appetite traits were measured using the Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire or the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire at age 2 to 4 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo. Weight and length were collected at birth, 4 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze associations between appetite traits at 2 to 4 wk and 6 mo and weight for age z-score change (WFAZC) between 4 wk and 6 mo and 6 and 12 mo. Associations were also analyzed in the opposite direction, between WFAZC from birth to 4 wk, 4 wk to 6 mo, and 6 mo to 12 mo and appetite traits at 4 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo.

RESULTS

Satiety responsiveness (SR) at 2 to 4 wk was associated with lower WFAZC from 4 wk to 6 mo (β: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.04) and SR at age 6 mo was associated with lower WFAZC from 6 to 12 mo (β: -0.09; 95% CI: -0.17, -0.02). WFAZC from 4 wk to 6 mo was associated with higher enjoyment of food at 12 mo (β: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.20), higher food responsiveness at 12 mo (β: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.30), and lower SR at both 6 mo (β: -0.11; 95% CI: -0.21, -0.01) and 12 mo (β: -0.14; 95% CI: -0.24, -0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a bidirectional association between weight gain and appetite traits in infancy, suggesting that the effect of postnatal weight gain on obesity development is partly mediated by programming of appetite traits.