Some people have heartier appetites than others from birth – and this puts them at risk of obesity, British researchers warned today.
A new study of twin babies has found that even in the early years, appetite is linked to growth and accumulation of fat.
Researchers found twins who seemed to have different levels of "food response" to each other.
The University College, London, researchers were able to measure appetite according to whether babies stopped eating when they were full and whether their appetite was stimulated by the sight or smell of food.
They found that on average the most food-responsive twins put on more than two pounds (1 kg) than their sibling by the age of 15 months.
Researchers said the findings highlight the need for parents to stand up to children with "hearty appetites" to ensure they do not over-eat.
The research was published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Researcher Professor Jane Wardle said: "These findings are extremely powerful because we were comparing children of the same age and same sex growing up in the same family in order to reveal the role that appetite plays in infant growth.
“It might make life easy to have a baby with a hearty appetite, but as she grows up, parents may need to be alert for tendencies to be somewhat over-responsive to food cues in the environment, or somewhat unresponsive to fullness.
"This behaviour could put her at risk of gaining weight faster than is good for her.”
Satiety mechanisms in genetic risk of obesity. JAMA Pediatrics 17 February 2014; doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4944
Leave a Reply