Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Paper
  • Published:

Investigation of the relationship between infant temperament and later body composition

International Journal of Obesity volume 21, pages 400–406 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Infant and Child Nutrition Group, Dunn Nutrition Unit, Downham's Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1XJ

    JCK Wells, M Stanley, AS Laidlaw & JME Day

  2. Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH

    M Stafford

  3. Queensland University of Technology, School of Human Movement Studies, Kelvin Grove Campus, Victoria Park Road, Locked Bag No 2, Red Hill, 4059, Queensland, Australia

    PSW Davies

Authors
  1. JCK Wells
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M Stanley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. AS Laidlaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. JME Day
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M Stafford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. PSW Davies
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wells, J., Stanley, M., Laidlaw, A. et al. Investigation of the relationship between infant temperament and later body composition. Int J Obes 21, 400–406 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800420

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800420

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links