Affect Food Choices Research Articles

Orthorexia Nervosa and Physical Activity: Impact on Food Choices and Quality of Life In Healthcare Workers

Objective: Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) which is formed by the combination of many factors such as biological, psychological and social factors, reduce the quality of life by affecting food choices. To evaluate the relationship between ON and physical activity status with food selection and quality of life among healthcare personnel at Balıkesir State Hospital in Türkiye. Methods: Sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status, “ Orthorexia Nervosa Rating Scale (ORTO-15 Scale),” “International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)”, “Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-27)”, “Food Consumption Frequency (FFQ)”, and “3-Day Food Consumption Record Form (2 weekdays-1 weekend day)” administered in person to 400 participants. Results: The participants exhibited signs of orthorexia in 80.2% of cases. Other healthcare professionals were most active group (22.5%), while doctors were most inactive (29.7%). Healthcare workers with orthorexic tendencies frequently consumed water, beverages, and dairy products, whereas individuals with typical eating habits commonly consumed fats. Very active health workers most frequently consume fats, inactive nurses and doctors consume water and beverages, and inactive health workers consume milk. Physical activity status affects quality of life, and as “IPAQ Total” scores increased, “General Health Status”, “Physical Health” and “Environment” sub-factor scores of WHOQOL-27 increased (p

Regretful bites: Exploring the influence of anthropomorphized food on children's food choices and consumption

Anthropomorphizing food is a prevalent marketing technique, particularly for children; however, its impact on their choices and consumption remains largely unexplored. We conducted two experiments to investigate how anthropomorphism affects food choices and consumption in four- and five-year-old children. In Study 1 (within-subjects design, N = 72), children were shown both anthropomorphized and non-anthropomorphized cookies and given a plastic coin. They were asked to choose the cookie they would like to exchange the coin for. The results indicated that a greater proportion of children selected the anthropomorphized cookie. In Study 2 (between-subjects design, N = 144), children were given either an anthropomorphized or a non-anthropomorphized cookie and allowed to eat as much as they wished. Those who received the anthropomorphized cookie consumed less and reported more feelings of regret compared to those who were given a non-anthropomorphized cookie. Together, these findings suggest that while anthropomorphic features might increase food choice, they paradoxically decrease actual consumption while increasing feelings of regret.

Factors Affecting Food Choice Among University Students in Malaysia

This study investigates the variables affecting university students' food Choices. A total of 361 respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, data gathered. The Food Frequency and the Food Choice Questionnaires were used to assess dietary intake and food choice characteristics adapted from Steptoe, Pollard, and Wardle (1995). The study examined various food selection criteria including health, price, convenience, familiarity, and sensory appeal. The results indicated that sensory appeal was the most important factor influencing food choices among university students, while price was the least important. A significant relationship between food choice factors and their food intake. Students showed a strong concern forboth sensory appeal and convenience. Due to limited resources, students prioritized the sensory appeal of food over other factors, with sensory appeal sometimes acting as a barrier to healthy eating. Future research should explore these factors in different geographical areas and educational institutions.

Effects of increasing the availability of vegetarian options on main meal choices, meal offer satisfaction and liking: a pre-post analysis in a French university cafeteria

BackgroundChanging the food environment is an important public health lever for encouraging sustainable food choices. Targeting the availability of vegetarian main meals served in cafeterias substantially affects food choice, but acceptability has never been assessed. We examined the effects of an availability intervention at a French university cafeteria on students’ main meal choices, meal offer satisfaction and liking.MethodsA four-week controlled trial was conducted in a university cafeteria in Dijon, France. During the two-week control period, vegetarian main meals constituted 24% of the offer. In the subsequent two-week intervention period, this proportion increased to 48%, while all the other menu items remained unchanged. Students were not informed of the change. Student choices were tracked using production data, and daily paper ballots were used to assess student satisfaction with the meal offer and liking of the main meal they chose (score range [1;5]). Nutritional quality, environmental impact, and cost of production of meal choices were calculated for each lunchtime. Food waste was measured over 4 lunchtimes during control and intervention periods. An online questionnaire collected student feedback at the end of the study.ResultsDoubling availability of vegetarian main meals significantly increased the likelihood of choosing vegetarian options (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = [2.41; 2.74]). Responses of the paper ballots (n = 18,342) indicated slight improvements in meal offer satisfaction from 4.05 ± 0.92 to 4.07 ± 0.93 (p = 0.028) and in liking from 4.09 ± 0.90 to 4.13 ± 0.92 (p < 0.001) during control and intervention periods, respectively. The end-of-study questionnaire (n = 510) revealed that only 6% of students noticed a change the availability of vegetarian main meals. The intervention led to a decrease in the environmental impact of the main meals chosen, a slight decrease in nutritional quality, a slight increase in meal costs and no change in food waste.ConclusionsDoubling availability of vegetarian main meals in a university cafeteria resulted in a twofold increase in their selection, with students reporting being more satisfied and liking the main meals more during the intervention period. These results suggest that serving an equal proportion of vegetarian and nonvegetarian main meals could be considered in French university cafeterias to tackle environmental issues.Trial registrationStudy protocol and analysis plan were pre-registered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/pf3x7/).

Triggers in the environment promoting food consumption

Most literature suggests that people can be influenced when choosing what to purchase or eat. Product availability, labelling and marketing, pricing, and portion size may all influence food choices. Environmental cues and the position of products on shelves, near checkouts, and in vending machines can also affect food choices and eating behaviours. Understanding the effects of these factors on human behaviour, and how they are affected by personal factors such as knowledge, values, motivations, and health goals, may provide avenues to nudge consumers towards healthy choices, and reinforce theoretical primers that support consumers to set appropriate goals for their well-being even when nudges promote consumption of less healthy foods

Gen Z's Willingness to Adopt Plant-Based Diets: Empirical Evidence from Greece, India, and the UK.

Comprising the largest population cohort on this planet, Gen Z presents a future-oriented consumer segment driven by climate change and food. This study sought to investigate Gen Z's perceptions toward plant-based foods and diets and explore the relationship that attitude components, meal preparation involvement, personal and lifestyle factors, and perceived barriers in adopting a plant-based diet have with willingness to adopt green-eating practices. Using cross-sectional data from university students in Greece, India, and the UK, various tools were employed to determine the factors influencing youths' consumer behavior toward animal-protein substitutes. PCA indicated the underlying dimensions of students' viewpoints on plant-based foods, whereas hierarchical and k-means clustering provided the cluster structure. An ordered probit model was estimated to delineate Gen Z's willingness to adopt plant-based diets and distinguish among mostly unwilling, somewhat willing, and mostly willing youths. Our findings identified two consumer segments, namely proponents and opponents of plant-based foods and diets, with statistically significant differences in the perceived health benefits of plant-based diets, attachment to animal-based proteins, perceived exclusion of animal-based foods, dissatisfaction with plant-based foods' attributes, and demand for ensuring adequate protein intake. The ordered probit model estimates showed that there is a "homogeneity" in the factors influencing youths' intention to adopt plant-based diets, with attitude components, meal preparation indicators, perceived barriers to eating "green", and personal factors, such as self-assessed knowledge of healthy eating and physical activity, being strongly associated with students' willingness to switch to plant-based diets in all three countries. Mapping potential obstacles and enablers in terms of shifting to more green-eating behaviors, our findings could add information to better understand the factors affecting food choice and youths' transition to a more sustainable lifestyle.

Adherence to mediterranean diet and aromatic plants intake are related with gustatory function: A case-study from a Portuguese region

The Mediterranean Diet has been recognized as one of the healthiest and most sustainable dietary patterns and is flavor rich due to the use of different seasonings, such as aromatic plants, in dish confection. Based on the hypotheses that: 1) gustatory function will affect food choices; 2) seasoning flavors may be differently accepted according to individuals’ gustatory functions; the aim of the present study was to assess the association between taste sensitivity and/or preference with Mediterranean Diet adherence and seasoning consumption. A total of 383 adults (18–59 years old; 198 female, 185 male) from North Alentejo region of Portugal were enrolled in this study, with 291 (145 female and 146 male) also evaluated for gustatory function. Recognition thresholds were obtained for four tastes (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter) and astringency, as well as preference level for the highest concentration of each stimulus tested. A validated Food Frequency Questionnaire was filled out, and MD adherence was extrapolated from the answers of the Food Frequency Questionnaire according to the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score.In total, 20.8% of the individuals presented low, 58.2% medium, and 21.0% high adherence. Adherence was higher in women than men and in older individuals than younger adults. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was positively correlated with aromatic plants consumption but not spices. Seasonings were associated with gustatory function, and the cluster with higher consumption presented higher preferences for bitter and salty tastes. Total sodium intake was also higher in this cluster, suggesting that these individuals prefer stronger oral sensations. In conclusion, this study shows that MD adherence is not high, even in regions with rural characteristics. The observed association of MD and seasoning intake with gustatory function do underline the usefulness of this information in strategies aimed at promoting healthy and sustainable eating patterns.

Exploring Locust Consumption Acceptance Factors among Pakistani University Students: Insights for Sustainable Food Adoption

In the past years, the food security issue has become clearer, and resources have been sought to improve the sustainable food chain with the aim of reducing the harm to the environment caused by traditional food systems. Through the arrival of edible insects, sustainability and nutritional prowess emerge as a solution in view. On the downside/on the other/however, public acceptance is one of the key factors that limit their (AV) placement. The scientists have frantically worked on the identification of the factors that make up one's decision to improve on the level of eating insects. This paper details the research conducted with a group of 125 students who come from numerous public institutions in Pakistan, with the focus to determine their readiness to incorporate consuming bugs which is a fresh protein source in their cultural sphere. The investigation was multifaceted one and covered the spectrum from disgust effects, safety risks, to cultural factors, knowledge gap, environmental issues, and religious considerations. Implementing a five-point Likert scale questionnaire administered through the use of Google Forms, the study brought to the fore critical aspects that stimulate the decisions and intentions of students regarding whether to eat insects to control the escalating locust population. The research pinpoints several factors as being the most important in shaping participants´ attitude towards the idea of either trying or avoiding the locust-based food – those would be something like disgust, deeply held religious views, and merely care toward the surrounding environment. On top of this, cultural influences and knowledge gaps became the essential determinants that worked to promote those decisions. This analysis applied a multipronged approach to investigate the multifarious parts that affect food choices, especially with regard to dietary innovation such as locusts. This research, not only shows a broader approach to the analysis of insect consumption in Pakistan but also contributes to effective educational programs leading to a rise in awareness level on this issue. These strategies are quite essential in the context of the issue and can contribute to the development of cheap, high-quality food and the resolution of the global food security quandary.

Short Sleep Duration and Skipping Main Meals among University Students

Abstract Introduction Admission to university influences lifestyle behaviors and is marked by a daily routine of accumulation of activities that can interfere with sleep duration, affecting food choices and meal consumption habits throughout the day. Objective To analyze the association between short sleep duration and skipping main meals among university students. Materials and Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study with 1,608 university students aged between 16 and 25 years, who were enrolled in full-time undergraduate courses at a public university in the Midwestern region of Brazil. Information on skipping breakfast, lunch, and dinner was collected through the question “On average, how often do you eat the following meals?”. Given the lack of a uniform criterion to define “skipping a meal”, in the present study, any answer that did not correspond to the daily consumption of the meal was classified as meal skipping, based on the recommendation of the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population. Short sleep duration was determined according to sleep time during the night (≤ 6 hours for those aged ≥18 years and ≤ 7 hours for those under 18 years of age). Associations were estimated using adjusted Poisson regression models. Results The prevalences of skipping breakfast, lunch, and dinner were of 51.0%, 13.9%, and 35.6% respectively. Short sleep duration was observed in 27.2% of the study population. After adjusting for confounding variables, short sleep duration was positively associated with skipping breakfast (adjusted prevalence ratio [PRadj] = 1.20; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.08–1.34) and skipping lunch (PRadj = 1.64; 95%CI = 1.27–2.12). Conclusion University students presented a high prevalence of skipping main meals. Short sleep duration was directly associated with skipping two major meals of the day: breakfast and lunch.

Adolescents' use of online food delivery applications and perceptions of healthy food options and food safety: a cross-sectional study in the United Arab Emirates.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess Online food delivery applications (OFDA) usage trends among adolescent users in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), focusing on their perceptions of healthy food options and food safety (n = 532). Sociodemographic information, frequency of OFDA use, factors affecting food choices, and perceptions of healthy food and food safety were investigated. A total perception score was calculated for each participant. Most participants used OFDAs weekly (65.4%), favoring fast food (85.7%). Factors like appearance and price drove food choices (65.0%), while taste and cost hindered healthy food orders (29.7 and 28.2%). Younger and frequent users had lower scores for perceiving healthy food, while seeking healthy options was associated with higher scores (p < 0.05). Females and those seeking healthy food showed higher food safety scores (p < 0.05). The study suggests tailored interventions to promote healthier choices and improve food safety perceptions among adolescents using OFDAs in the UAE.

The effect of nutrition labels on lunch buffet consumption: a real-life experiment

PurposeThis study aims to increase knowledge of the ability of nutrition labels to guide consumer choices in real-life environments.Design/methodology/approachFood consumption and plate waste data were collected from two self-service restaurants (SSR) with different customer groups over six observation days: three control and three intervention (with nutrition labelling) periods. Study Group 1 consisted of vocational school students, mostly late adolescents (N = 1,710), and Group 2 consisted of spa hotel customers, mostly elderly (N = 1,807). In the experimental restaurants, the same food was served to the buffets during the control and intervention periods.FindingsThe nutrition label in the lunch buffet guides customers to eat fewer main foods and salads and to select healthier choices. Increased consumption of taste enhancers (salt and ketchup) was observed in the study restaurants after nutritional labelling. Nutrition labelling was associated with a reduction in plate waste among the elderly, whereas the opposite was observed among adolescents.Originality/valueThe results provide public policymakers and marketers with a better understanding of the effects of nutrition labelling on consumer behaviour. Future studies should further evaluate the effects of nutrition labelling on the overall quality of customer diets and the complex environmental, social, and psychological factors affecting food choices and plate waste accumulation in various study groups.

Healthy food and determinants of food choice on online food delivery applications.

Online food delivery applications (OFD apps) provide consumers with a wide range of options to choose from. The present study aimed to assess the usage of OFD apps and investigate the factors that affect food choices with a special emphasis on healthy food choices and hygiene. A cross-sectional study among food delivery application users in Jordan was conducted using an online questionnaire between March and May 2022. A total of 675 eligible subjects participated in the study. Consumers' demographic characteristics, data on consumers' use of OFD apps, consumers' perceptions of healthy food availability in OFD apps, and consumers' attitudes toward food safety and delivery hygiene were collected and analyzed. About 64% of the studied sample used OFD apps weekly. Fast food was the most popular option for ordering (87.1%) and lunchtime was the most preferred time to order food (67.3%) for most of the respondents. Respondents' perceptions of a "healthy meal" was associated with the presence of a variety of vegetables in the meal. Food price, food appearance, time of delivery, macronutrient content information, the availability of healthy options, and considering vegetables as part of a healthy meal were determinants of consumer food choice (p<0.05). The findings suggest that the online food environment in Jordan was perceived to be unhealthy. Nevertheless, the convenient nature and the popularity of OFD apps hold great potential to promote healthy eating among consumers.

Development and Validation of a Perceived Community Food Accessibility Measurement Questionnaire for Korean Older Adults.

As the community food environment is known to be an important factor in healthy food choices, it needs to be measured, to increase awareness and improve healthy eating. The objective of this study was to develop a perceived community food accessibility measurement (P-CFAM) questionnaire applicable to older adults in Korea and evaluate its reliability and validity. The questionnaire was developed based on community food environment factors that were found to affect food choices in previous studies. We evaluated the internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion-related validity. The subjects were 188 older adults for validity. The Cronbach's alpha value for the reliability measure was 0.9. The confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the construct validity of the questionnaire showed values close to those of the optimal model (GFI = 0.983, AGFI = 0.948, RMR = 0.004, NFI = 0.987, CFI = 0.996). Regarding the criterion-related validity, the P-CFAM questionnaire results were significantly related to objective measurement indicators such as the number of grocery stores, the travel time to a grocery store, and the intake of vegetables and fruit. In conclusion, the developed P-CFAM questionnaire was shown to be reliable and valid, and useful for assessing older adults' perceptions of community food accessibility in Korea.

Traffic light nutrition labeling preferences among children

ObjectiveThis study evaluates the effects of traffic light (TL) nutritional label attributes on children’s food choices. Data were collected from a survey of 1179 Ecuadorian students attending public middle and high school in three major cities in the country’s southern region (Machala, Loja, and Zamora). The survey instrument included two sets of choice experiments: one with yogurt products and the other with soft drinks (sodas and juices). In the choice scenarios, children were presented with two products that differed in price and the TL label colors for sugar, salt, and fat. Children’s product selections in the choice experiments were analyzed using mixed logit models. The results indicate that labels affect food choices. Additionally, children are willing to pay increasing premium levels for products with yellow, green, and “does not contain” labels compared to products with red labels. Overall, the study’s findings offer evidence that TL labels are effective in helping children make food choices consistent with their preferences for food products with TL labels representing healthier alternatives.

Personalized Flexible Meal Planning for Individuals With Diet-Related Health Concerns: System Design and Feasibility Validation Study.

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension are major global health challenges. Healthy eating can help people with chronic diseases manage their condition and prevent complications. However, making healthy meal plans is not easy, as it requires the consideration of various factors such as health concerns, nutritional requirements, tastes, economic status, and time limits. Therefore, there is a need for effective, affordable, and personalized meal planning that can assist people in choosing food that suits their individual needs and preferences. This study aimed to design an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered meal planner that can generate personalized healthy meal plans based on the user's specific health conditions, personal preferences, and status. We proposed a system that integrates semantic reasoning, fuzzy logic, heuristic search, and multicriteria analysis to produce flexible, optimized meal plans based on the user's health concerns, nutrition needs, as well as food restrictions or constraints, along with other personal preferences. Specifically, we constructed an ontology-based knowledge base to model knowledge about food and nutrition. We defined semantic rules to represent dietary guidelines for different health concerns and built a fuzzy membership of food nutrition based on the experience of experts to handle vague and uncertain nutritional data. We applied a semantic rule-based filtering mechanism to filter out food that violate mandatory health guidelines and constraints, such as allergies and religion. We designed a novel, heuristic search method that identifies the best meals among several candidates and evaluates them based on their fuzzy nutritional score. To select nutritious meals that also satisfy the user's other preferences, we proposed a multicriteria decision-making approach. We implemented a mobile app prototype system and evaluated its effectiveness through a use case study and user study. The results showed that the system generated healthy and personalized meal plans that considered the user's health concerns, optimized nutrition values, respected dietary restrictions and constraints, and met the user's preferences. The users were generally satisfied with the system and its features. We designed an AI-powered meal planner that helps people create healthy and personalized meal plans based on their health conditions, preferences, and status. Our system uses multiple techniques to create optimized meal plans that consider multiple factors that affect food choice. Our evaluation tests confirmed the usability and feasibility of the proposed system. However, some limitations such as the lack of dynamic and real-time updates should be addressed in future studies. This study contributes to the development of AI-powered personalized meal planning systems that can support people's health and nutrition goals.

P24-024-23 Behavioral Changes, Dietary Habits and Factors Affecting Food Choices in College Students 2 Years Into the Pandemic

P24-024-23 Behavioral Changes, Dietary Habits and Factors Affecting Food Choices in College Students 2 Years Into the Pandemic

Food values and personality traits in the United States and Norway

Values and personality affect food choices, and values are associated with personality. Food values are values that have been developed specifically within a food context. Our primary objective was to investigate the associations between these food values and the Big Five personality traits. An online survey with a choice experiment on food values and questions about socioeconomic characteristics and personality traits were conducted in Norway and the US. A latent class logit model was used to segment respondents based on the relative importance they assigned to the different food values. Personality traits and socioeconomic characteristics were used to determine the probability of membership in each segment. A health, an altruistic, a rational, and a hedonistic segment were identified in both countries. In addition, Norwegian natural and welfare segments and US safety and indeterminate segments were identified. Several personality traits and socioeconomic characteristics were significant in defining the segments, and these traits and characteristics can potentially be used for marketing purposes of foods with sustainability-related attributes. Marketing activities can be targeted at segments who emphasize sustainability-related aspects of food consumption such as environmental impact, fairness, and animal welfare.

Food neophobia and its association with sociodemographic factors and food preferences among Bangladeshi university students: Evidence from a cross-sectional study

Food neophobia, described as a reluctance to eat and or avoid new food, is a personality trait that affects food choice. Despite its potential influence on an individual's food intake, food neophobia has been poorly investigated in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate food neophobia and its association with sociodemographic factors and food preferences in a sample of Bangladeshi university students. Five hundred students from five public universities completed the structured surveys. Food neophobia was assessed by a 10-item validated food neophobia scale with some minor modifications based on study settings. A multiple linear regression model was used to observe the factors associated with food neophobia. The mean food neophobia score among study participants was 37.45 (SD: 13.39, Range: 13–67). According to the adjusted statistical model, being female (regression coefficient, β = 2.73), having higher monthly family income (β = −6.64), being underweight (β = 4.68), being overweight (β = −4.63), having any food allergy (β = 9.09), and a history of sickness after eating a new food item (β = 5.16) were significantly associated with food neophobia amongst the participants. The participants' liking of various food items such as vegetables were significantly correlated with food neophobia scores. Nutrition education policies and programs are of importance to address the students' food neophobia during their tertiary education so that they maintain lifelong healthy dietary habits and consume a variety of foods to improve their physical health and well-being.

Temporal sweet taste dominance according to adult body mass index classification

Excess adipose tissue is associated with basic tastes perception change, which can negatively affect food choices. However, the effect of overweight and obesity on sensory perception is not clearly explained in the literature yielding heterogeneous results. The present investigation aimed to investigate the temporal dominance of sweet taste according to body mass index (BMI) classification in adults during the ingestion of five passion fruit nectar samples prepared with different sucrose concentrations. The temporal dominance of sensations methodology was applied, which allowed the representation of the stimuli assessed in dominance curves, considering a significant difference in Fisher's exact test (p≤0.05). The attributes evaluated were sweet taste, bitter taste, acidic taste, astringency, passion fruit flavor, metallic taste, or none of the previous options. The sensory analysis was performed with the participation of ninety adult consumers, divided into three groups: EG=eutrophic, WG=overweight, and OG=obesity group, according to the BMI classification. Between the groups a difference in the perception of the attribute "sweet taste" was observed: The EG demonstrated perception of the stimulus in food samples at lower sucrose concentrations, whereas WG and OG showed a higher rate of sweet taste dominance in the food samples with higher concentration of sucrose. Overweight and obese individuals have a lower sensory perception of sweet taste and require a greater amount of sucrose to producing sensory dominance of the attribute "sweet taste" when compared to eutrophic individuals. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Overweight and obese individuals may experience taste perception in foods in a different way. This study investigated the dominance of sweet taste perception in a fruit beverage by adults with adequate weight and overweight. The results of the tests support the hypothesis that obese and nonobese individuals differ in the sweet taste perception, which can help to understand which factors are involved in sensory perception and food consumption, in addition to providing subsidies for the nonalcoholic beverage industry to elaborate products with new alternatives for concentration and/or replacement of sucrose.

Genetic Obesity in Pregnant Ay Mice Does Not Affect Susceptibility to Obesity and Food Choice in Offspring.

Maternal diet and obesity (MO) may influence taste preferences and increase the susceptibility to obesity in offspring, but the impact of MO per se to these influences is poorly understood. We evaluated the influence of MO on food choice and susceptibility to obesity in offspring when mothers consumed a standard diet (SD). Mice with the Lethal yellow mutation (Ay/a) develop obesity consuming an SD. Metabolic parameters were assessed in pregnant and lactating Ay/a (obesity) and a/a (control) mothers. Metabolic response to the consumption of a sweet-fat diet (SFD: SD, lard, and sweet biscuits) and the choice of components of this diet were evaluated in their male and female offspring. Compared to control mothers, pregnant obese mothers had higher levels of insulin, leptin, and FGF21. MO increased food intake and liver expression of lipogenesis genes in male offspring consuming the SD. SFD consumption caused obesity development and insulin resistance, increased liver expression of glycolytic and lipogenesis genes, and affected hypothalamic expression of anorexigenic and orexigenic genes. In offspring of both sexes, MO had no effect on food choice and metabolic response to SFD intake. Therefore, when obese mothers consume a balanced diet, MO does not affect food choice and development of diet-induced obesity in offspring.