Early infant appetitive traits are associated with growth status and adiposity in African-American infants and toddlers.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have examined infant appetitive traits in minority populations or among mothers with obesity.

Aim: To test associations of appetitive traits with nutritional exposures and growth in African-American children up to age 24m.

Subjects and methods: Mothers with pre-pregnancy BMI <25 or ≥30 and their infants were included (n = 222). The Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (BEBQ) at 3m captured appetitive traits; BMI z-scores (BMIZ) at 3, 12 and 24m were examined. Internal consistency of BEBQ constructs was tested and their association with growth outcomes evaluated using correlation analysis, multiple regression, and tests for trend.

Results: Only the BEBQ construct "food responsiveness" met internal consistency criteria (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85). "General appetite" and single items serving as proxies for "slowness in eating," "enjoyment of food" and "satiety responsiveness" associated with growth outcomes. Food responsiveness was higher for mixed vs. formula-fed infants (p = 0.004), infants breastfed >3m (p = 0.006), and infants whose mothers reported food insecurity (p = 0.04). Multiple individual appetitive trait items associated with BMIZ at 24m, even after adjustment for baseline BMIZ (3m), maternal obesity status and addition of cereal to bottles.

Conclusions: Infant appetitive traits prospectively associate with relative weight and adiposity at 24m and aspects of the postnatal nutritional environment independent of maternal BMI.