Why do humans undergo an adiposity rebound? Exploring links with the energetic costs of brain development in childhood using MRI-based 4D measures of total cerebral blood flow.

The timing of peak TCBF in this sample points to a likely concordance between peak brain energetics and the nadir in adiposity. Inverse age trajectories between TCBF and BMI support the hypothesis that brain metabolism is a potentially important influence on early life adiposity. These findings also suggest that experiences influencing the pattern of childhood brain energy use could be important predictors of body composition trajectories.