Appetite and early behaviours predict growth during the first 4 months of life among infants in Klang Valley, Malaysia
- Author:
Nurul Husna Mohd Shukri
1
;
Jonathan C Wells
2
;
Mary Fewtrell
2
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: appetite; feeding behaviour; infant growth; prospective cohort; temperament
- From: Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2026;32(No. 2):217-229
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
- Abstract: Introduction: Early infant behaviour and nutrition are linked to health and development. While appetite and temperament relate to growth, they are highly inter-correlated. Using a prospective longitudinal design, we hypothesise that early behavioural traits are longitudinally associated with infant growth. Methods: Breastfeeding mothers (n=64), recruited during pregnancy at antenatal clinics in Klang Valley, Malaysia, were followed up during home visits (HV) after birth at 2, 6-8, 12-14, and 16-18 weeks of infant age. Mothers completed validated questionnaires assessing infant appetite (Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire) and temperament (Revised Rothbart’s Infant Behaviour Questionnaire), while infant weight and length were measured at each HV. At the final follow-up, 62 infants were included in the regression analyses. Results: Appetite and temperament traits were shown to be associated with infant growth outcomes at different time points (n=63 at HV3 and n=62 at HV4). Specifically, food responsiveness and effortful control were positively correlated with infant growth (e.g., weight standard deviation, SD gain: B=0.50, p=0.01). Conversely, slowness in eating was negatively associated with infant weight outcomes across time points (e.g., weight SD HV4: B=-0.45, p<0.01). Multivariate analyses consistently demonstrated appetite and temperament traits as predictors of infant growth measurements at different time points. Conclusion: Early determination of appetite and temperament traits was associated with early infant growth trajectories. Further research with a longer follow-up and larger sample size is needed to ascertain the influence of possible infant behavioural programming on later health outcomes.
- Full text:2026090314224940551Appetite and early behaviours predict growth during the first 4 months of life among infants in Klang Valley, Malaysia.pdf
