Validity and Reliability of the Baby and Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire, Toddler Version (BEBQ-Mex and CEBQ-T-Mex) in a Low Sociodemographic Sample Recruited in a Mexican Hospital.

Claudia Hunot-Alexander,Alfredo Larrosa-Haro,Edgar Manuel Vásquez-Garibay,Jocelyn González-Toribio,Erika Casillas-Toral,Carmen Patricia Curiel-Curiel

doi:10.3390/bs11120168

Abstract

The objective of this study was to validate and measure the internal reliability of the Baby and Child Eating Behavior Questionnaires for Toddlers (BEBQ-Mex and CEBQ-T-Mex), that evaluate appetitive trait (ATs). Mothers recruited from a public hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico, completed the BEBQ-Mex or CEBQ-T-Mex along with information on sociodemographic characteristics. Internal reliability of the BEBQ-Mex was sufficient for Food Responsiveness (FR) (Cronbach α = 0.82), while Enjoyment of Food (EF) and Satiety Responsiveness (SR) showed poor reliability (α = 0.56) and Slowness in Eating (SE) had unacceptable reliability (a = 0.36). All reliability values for the CEBQ-T-Mex were acceptable (>0.70), except for SE (α = 0.64). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed an adequate model fit for the BEBQ-Mex, except the SE subscale. CFA for the CEBQ-T-Mex confirmed the six-factor structure. Mothers of a low sociodemographic background were unable to recognize their infants’ ATs; the BEBQ-Mex partly met the criteria for validity and reliability. Mothers from similar sociodemographic characteristics were more able to recognize the ATs of their toddlers than their infants; the CEBQ-T-Mex was found to be a valid and reliable tool. Findings support the need to help mothers’ ability to recognize their infants’ ATs, which have been previously associated with weight and growth.

Highlights

IntroductionEach individual is born with certain genetic characteristics, and these can be susceptible to the environment in which they interact, including the first 1000 days of life [1]
Each individual is born with certain genetic characteristics, and these can be susceptible to the environment in which they interact, including the first 1000 days of life [1].Both the infant during its first six months of life and the toddler from the ages of one to three years old, represent stages of the life cycle that could lead to the development of overweight or obesity or stunted growth and could be used as stages to design prevention interventions [2]
We explored the associations between appetitive traits for the BEBQMex and the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ)-T-Mex and the associations between the appetite traits of infants and toddlers with the body mass index (BMI) z-scores (BMI-z) of the sample

Summary

Introduction

Each individual is born with certain genetic characteristics, and these can be susceptible to the environment in which they interact, including the first 1000 days of life [1] Both the infant during its first six months of life and the toddler from the ages of one to three years old, represent stages of the life cycle that could lead to the development of overweight or obesity or stunted growth and could be used as stages to design prevention interventions [2]. Certain eating behavior dimensions have been associated with the development of overweight and obesity, as well as failure to thrive [6] These can be described as genetic predispositions towards foods that interact with the environment to influence eating and weight gain [7], known as appetitive traits [8,9,10]. The proclivity towards a greater or lower response to food or satiety sensitivity could lead each individual to increase their weight, or to not gain weight if they have a poorer appetite, from an early age [6,9,10]

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