Early Life Energy Balance: The Development of Infant Energy Expenditure and Intake in the Context of Obesity

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review aims to provide a summary of the current knowledge on measurement tools and most recent evidence for prenatal and postnatal modulators of energy balance in young infants.

Recent findings: The prevention of pediatric obesity depends upon curating the perfect imbalance of energy intake to energy expenditure, taking into consideration the energy needs for healthy growth. We summarize the recent evidence for the programming of fetal and infant metabolism influenced by maternal preconception health, prenatal metabolic milieu, and physical activity behaviors. In the early postnatal environment, caregiver feeding behaviors shape the extent of energy imbalance through dictating quantity and modality of infant energy intake. There are biological and behavioral contributors to improper infant energy imbalance. Furthermore, caregiver and clinician education on overfeeding and clinical tools to prescribe and monitor infant overgrowth are absent. Ultimately, the lack of high-quality and modern research of infant energy expenditure underpins the lack of advancement in clinical guidelines and the needed prevention of pediatric obesity.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Brown adipose tissue; Metabolic chamber; Neonatal energy.

Fig. 1

Energy Imbalance in Infants