Energy intake in early infancy and childhood fatness

To investigate whether aspects of infant energy intake are related to fatness in early childhood. Longitudinal investigation of infants studied at 12 weeks and 2-3.5 y. 20 healthy infants, breast-fed or formula-fed, from the general population. Milk volume intake (MVI) by deuterium turnover, estimated energy intake, weaning status and body composition in infancy, body composition in childhood. MVI was not related to infant skinfolds or percentage fat. Weaning was inversely related to MVI (P < 0.04) at 12 weeks, and inversely related to skinfolds (P = 0.055) and fat mass (P = 0.020) in childhood. MVI and total energy intake were not related to childhood fatness. Early weaning was associated with a moderate reduction in childhood fatness. Two possible mechanisms are discussed. However, early infant energy intake was not an important determinant of later fatness in this population.