title: Predictors of Change in BMI From the Age of 4 to 8.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine appetite traits, level of physical activity, and television (TV) time as predictors of change in Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score (BMI SDS) from age 6 to 8 and to explore the effect of BMI SDS (from age 4) on appetite traits.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 995 Norwegian children participated at age 4; 760 and 687 of these children took part in the assessment at ages 6 and 8, respectively. Appetite traits were assessed using the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire, activity was measured using accelerometers, and TV time was based on parental reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High food responsiveness predicted a steeper increase in BMI SDS. A reversed effect was also observed: High BMI SDS predicted increased food responsiveness and decreased satiety responsiveness. Physical activity and TV time were unrelated to BMI SDS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children whose eating is especially triggered by the sight and smell of food show prospective increased weight gain. Excess weight and weight gain also predict increased food-approaching behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and Silje.Steinsbekk@svt.ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Silje
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinsbekk
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and NTNU Social Science.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wichstrøm
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013690:Television
keywords: children; eating and feeding disorders; health behavior; longitudinal research; obesity.