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Child temperament does not predict adolescent body composition in girls

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 47–53 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Our previous cross-sectional analysis of MIT Growth and Development (MIT) Study girls showed that activity temperament, as assessed by a nine-item temperament questionnaire, was related to body composition and nonresting energy expenditure (NREE). In girls with lower levels of physical activity, having a high activity temperament was associated with a higher NREE. Percentage body fat was lower in girls with high vs low activity temperament. Based on these results, we hypothesized that, especially in girls with declining levels of physical activity over adolescence, high activity temperament in childhood would be protective against increased adiposity during adolescence. We tested this hypothesis with longitudinal data from the MIT study.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:

A total of 196 nonobese premenarcheal girls 8–12 y old were enrolled between 1990 and 1993. Girls were followed until 4 y postmenarche; average duration of follow-up was 7 y.

MEASURES:

Activity temperament was assessed at baseline by the girls' mothers with questions modified from those developed by Thomas and Chess that tapped predilection for movement. Temperament, the stylistic component of behavior, is considered relatively stable within an individual. Body composition was assessed by total body water at baseline and study completion (4 y postmenarche), and by bioelectrical impedance (BIA) annually. Physical activity was assessed annually by questionnaire, and by activity diary at baseline only.

RESULTS:

Child activity temperament was not associated with percentage body fat at 4 y postmenarche in multivariate regression models controlling for baseline percentage body fat, physical activity, parental obesity status, age at menarche, age at baseline, and race-ethnicity. Body composition of girls with low and high activity temperaments who reported declining levels of physical activity over adolescence was not statistically significantly different at study completion. In longitudinal models of percentage body fat by BIA, high activity temperament was not associated with lower adiposity.

CONCLUSION:

Although high activity temperament was associated cross-sectionally with lower percentage body fat and higher NREE, we did not find evidence to support our hypothesis that high child activity temperament would be protective for increased adiposity prospectively in our cohort of girls followed over the adolescent period.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Elena Naumova for her thoughtful comments on our statistical approach, Jennifer Spadano, and the staff at the Clinical Research Center for their assistance with the study, as well as the girls who enrolled for their participation and commitment. This study was also supported by NIH Grants DK-50537, M01-RR-00088, 5P30 DK46200 and T32-DK62032-11.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gerald J and Dorothy R Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    S E Anderson & A Must

  2. Clinical Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

    L G Bandini

  3. Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    L G Bandini

  4. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, UMASS Medical School, Waltham, MA, USA

    L G Bandini

  5. Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    A Must

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  1. S E Anderson
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Correspondence to S E Anderson.

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Anderson, S., Bandini, L. & Must, A. Child temperament does not predict adolescent body composition in girls. Int J Obes 29, 47–53 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802844

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