Weight trajectories from birth to 5 years and child appetitive traits at 7 years of age: a prospective birth cohort study.

Rapid prenatal and postnatal weight gain seem to alter appetite regulation and hypothalamic functions through different pathways; however, little is known on how early life growth trajectories may influence appetitive traits in school-age. We aimed to explore the associations between weight trajectories from birth to 5 years and appetitive traits at 7. Participants were from the Generation XXI birth cohort ( 3855). Four weight trajectories were investigated: '' (closely overlaps the 50th percentile in the weight-for-age curve), '' (low birth weight and weight gain mainly during infancy), '' (continuous weight gain since birth) and '' (always showing higher weight than the average). Appetitive traits were assessed through the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Associations were tested using generalised linear models, adjusted for maternal and child characteristics. Compared with '', those in the other growth trajectories showed greater enjoyment of food and eating in response to food stimuli (i.e. Food Responsiveness) but were less able to compensate for prior food intake and ate faster at 7 (i.e. less Satiety Responsiveness and Slowness in Eating). Also, those with '' showed to have greater Emotional Overeating and less Emotional Undereating and were fussier. Associations were stronger if greater weight gain occurred during infancy. Early infancy seems to be a sensitive period in the development of later appetitive traits. The control of rapid growth during infancy, besides strategies focused on the overall environment where children are living, is necessary.