title: Low maternal sensitivity at 6 months of age predicts higher BMI in 48 month old girls but not boys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Large population-based studies suggest that systematic measures of maternal sensitivity predict later risk for overweight and obesity. More work is needed to establish the developmental timing and potential moderators of this association. The current study examined the association between maternal sensitivity at 6 months of age and BMI z score measures at 48 months of age, and whether sex moderated this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal Canadian cohort of children from birth (the MAVAN project).
  
  
  METHODS
  This analysis was based on a dataset of 223 children (115 boys, 108 girls) who had structured assessments of maternal sensitivity at 6 months of age and 48-month BMI data available. Mother-child interactions were videotaped and systematically scored using the Maternal Behaviour Q-Sort (MBQS)-25 items, a standardized measure of maternal sensitivity. Linear mixed-effects models and logistic regression examined whether MBQS scores at 6 months predicted BMI at 48 months, controlling for other covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for weight-relevant covariates, there was a significant sex by MBQS interaction (P=0.015) in predicting 48 month BMI z. Further analysis revealed a strong negative association between MBQS scores and BMI in girls (P=0.01) but not boys (P=0.72). Logistic regression confirmed that in girls only, low maternal sensitivity was associated with the higher BMI categories as defined by the WHO (i.e. "at risk for overweight" or above).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant association between low maternal sensitivity at 6 months of age and high body mass indices was found in girls but not boys at 48 months of age. These data suggest for the first time that the link between low maternal sensitivity and early BMI z may differ between boys and girls.
authors: Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Electronic address: bwendlan@ryerson.ca.
authors: Barbara E
authors: BE
authors: Wendland
authors: Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada.
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Atkinson
authors: Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada.
authors: Meir
authors: M
authors: Steiner
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors: Alison S
authors: AS
authors: Fleming
authors: Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Pencharz
authors: Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Moss
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada.
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: Gaudreau
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors: Patricia P
authors: PP
authors: Silveira
authors: Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada.
authors: Tamara
authors: T
authors: Arenovich
authors: Departments of Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors: Stephen G
authors: SG
authors: Matthews
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Meaney
authors: Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada.
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Levitan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014743:Videotape Recording
keywords: Body mass index (BMI) WHO z scores; Maternal sensitivity; Parent–child interaction; Sex differences