Appetitive Traits Research Articles

The Association Between Birth Weight and Fat, Sugar, and Vegetable Consumption in a National Sample of U.S. Preschool Age Children.

Adverse prenatal development is a contributor to obesity susceptibility in children. Dietary behavior is one mechanism through which adverse prenatal development may promote obesity, but evidence for the role of prenatal overnutrition in dietary intake in young children is scant. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014. Our study sample included 1782 U.S. children 2-5years old with available birth weight and two 24-h dietary recalls. We used linear and Poisson regression to examine the association of birth weight (LBW < 2500g, HBW > 4100g) and 2-day average intake of dietary variables. We tested interactions between birthweight and breastfeeding (breastfed > 5months vs. not breastfed or breastfed 0-5months), and report breastfeeding-specific results. In multivariable regression analysis, in boys, LBW was associated with 2.4 (95% CI -4.3, -0.5) lower percent of kcal from solid fat; lower sugar intake, marginally lower saturated and total fat intake, and 0.6 cup (95% CI 0.1, 1.0) greater vegetable consumption; HBW was marginally associated with lower fat. Birth weight was unrelated to diet in girls. Breastfeeding modified associations between birth weight and dietary intake, but the direction of modification was mixed. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that LBW or HBW are associated with adverse diet consumption in preschool age U.S. children. Improved understanding of the role of early life development of dietary behavior requires further research on the development of appetitive traits and the role of the family and preschool food environments.

Using association rules mining to characterize loss of control eating in childhood

Childhood loss of control (LOC)-eating, the perceived inability to stop or control eating, is associated with increased risk for binge-eating disorder and obesity. However, the correlates of LOC-eating in childhood remain unclear. A secondary analysis of 177, 7-12-year-old children from five laboratory feeding studies was performed to investigate potential family (e.g., frequency of meals together, feeding practices), parental (e.g., education, weight status), and child (e.g., weight status, appetite traits) correlates of LOC-eating. Association rules mining (ARM1), a data-driven approach, was used to examine all characteristics that were common across studies to identify which were associated with LOC-eating. Results showed LOC-eating was characterized by a combination of child appetitive behaviors and parental feeding practices. In particular, LOC-eating was associated with low parental pressure to eat in combination with a high propensity to want to eat all the time and frequent refusal or dislike of novel foods. This pattern of both food approach (i.e., wanting to eat all the time) and avoidant behaviors (i.e., food fussiness) highlights the need for more research to characterize the complex patterns of appetitive traits associated with LOC-eating. In contrast, the absence of LOC-eating was associated with a low propensity to want to eat all the time, greater family income, and infrequent emotional overeating. Therefore, propensity to want to eat all the time, a single question from the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire, characterized both the presence and absence of LOC-eating, highlighting the need for more research to determine if this question captures clinically relevant individual differences. Future studies addressing these questions will advance our understanding of pediatric LOC-eating and may lead to interventions to reduce risk for more severe eating disorder symptomology.

The association between childhood adiposity and appetite assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify associations between Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) and Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire (BEBQ) appetitive traits (food approach: Food Responsiveness [FR], Enjoyment of Food [EF], Emotional Overeating [EOE], and Desire to Drink [DD]; food avoidant: Satiety Responsiveness [SR], Slowness in Eating [SE], Emotional Undereating [EUE], Food Fussiness [FF]) and measures of child adiposity. Searches of six databases up to February 2019 identified 72 studies (CEBQ, n = 67; BEBQ, n = 5), and 27 met the meta-analysis criteria. For cross-sectional studies reporting unadjusted correlations with body mass index z-scores (BMIz) (n = 19), all traits were associated with BMIz in expected directions (positive: FR, EF, EOE, and DD; negative: SR, SE, EUE, and FF). Pooled estimates ranged from r = 0.22 (FR) to r = -0.21 (SR). For cross-sectional studies reporting regression coefficients (n = 10), three traits (FR, EF, and EOE) associated positively, and three traits (SR, SE, and EUE) negatively, with BMIz (β = -0.31 [SR] to β = 0.22 [FR]). Eleven studies reported prospective relationships from appetite to adiposity measures for six scales (positive: FR, EF, EOE, and DD; negative: SR and SE). Five studies reported relationships from adiposity measures to appetite for five traits (positive: FR, EF, and EOE; negative: SR). All BEBQ traits were consistently cross-sectionally associated with adiposity measures. Overall, CEBQ/BEBQ-assessed appetitive traits show consistent cross-sectional relationships with measures of child adiposity.

Positive maternal attitudes to following healthy infant feeding guidelines attenuate the associations between infant appetitive traits and both infant milk intake and weight

Appetitive traits influence food intake and weight gain throughout the life-course. Here, we investigated whether maternal attitudes to following healthy infant feeding guidelines could modify this association. Baseline data from 544 mother-infant formula-feeding dyads recruited to the Baby Milk Trial were included in this observational, cross-sectional analysis. Infant appetitive traits (food responsiveness and satiety responsiveness), maternal attitudes to following healthy infant feeding guidelines (self-efficacy, outcome-expectancy, intentions) and infant milk intakes were reported by mothers through questionnaires. Infant weight was measured using standard procedures. Associations between the maternal attitudes score or infant appetitive traits with infant milk intake and infant weight were evaluated in linear regression models adjusted for infant sex and age. To identify effect modification, the interaction term between the maternal attitudes score and infant appetitive trait was added to the model. Infants’ mean age and weight were 2.3 months (SD = 0.9) and 5.5 kg (SD = 0.9), respectively. The mean daily infant milk intake reported by mothers was 895 ml/day (SD = 215). Higher maternal attitudes score was associated with lower infant milk intake (Beta = −68.4 ml/day/unit (95% CI: 96.6, −40.2)) and infant weight (Beta = −0.13 SD/unit (−0.25, −0.02)). The maternal attitudes score showed interactions with infant food responsiveness on infant milk intake (p = 0.049), and with infant satiety responsiveness on infant weight (p = 0.01). In both cases, a higher maternal attitudes score attenuated the associations between infant appetitive traits and those outcomes. This analysis provides evidence that positive maternal attitudes to following healthy infant feeding guidelines attenuate the effects of infant appetitive traits on infant milk intake and body weight.

Appetitive Traits in a Population-Based Study of Polish Adolescents within the PLACE-19 Study: Validation of the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire.

Appetitive traits of food approach or food avoidance are commonly measured using the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ). However, there is no Polish version of the AEBQ validated for adolescents, and to the best of our knowledge, no study completed with the Polish version of the AEBQ has been published thus far. The present study aimed to validate the AEBQ in a population-based sample of Polish secondary school students and to assess differences in appetitive traits between boys and girls within the Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study. The PLACE-19 Study was conducted in a group of 2448 adolescents recruited in May 2020 through the random quota sampling of secondary schools. The AEBQ was used to assess food approach subscales (Food Responsiveness, Emotional Over-Eating, and Enjoyment of Food) and food avoidance subscales (Satiety Responsiveness, Emotional Under-Eating, Food Fussiness, and Slowness in Eating). To validate the questionnaire, the standardized factor loadings within confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with weighted least squares (WLS) were analyzed, and invariance was verified. The CFA presented good model fit, with χ2 = 4826.105 (degrees of freedom (df) = 384), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.069 (90% confidence interval (CI): 0.067, 0.070), comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.90, and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.08. The results revealed that, compared to the configural invariance model, the metric invariance model did not result in significantly decreased model fit, with ΔCFI = −0.002 and ΔRMSEA = −0.001, which were lower than the recommended cutoffs of 0.010 and 0.015, respectively. The scalar invariance model also did not result in significantly decreased fit of the model over the metric invariance model, with ΔCFI = −0.005 and ΔRMSEA = 0.000. Girls reported higher levels of Food Responsiveness (p < 0.0001), Emotional Over-Eating (p < 0.0001), Satiety Responsiveness (p < 0.0001), Emotional Under-Eating (p < 0.0001), and Slowness in Eating than boys (p < 0.0001), and the total AEBQ scores of girls were also higher (p < 0.0001). Positive inter-correlations were observed between all food approach subscales, as well as between Emotional Under-Eating and all food approach subscales for girls, boys, and the total sample; positive inter-correlations were also observed between the majority of food avoidance subscales. The present study confirmed the validity of the AEBQ in the studied population, and supported the associations between appetitive traits assessed using the AEBQ; it also indicated higher scores of both food approach and food avoidance subscales in girls than in boys in a population-based sample of Polish secondary school students.

INSIGHT responsive parenting intervention effects on child appetite and maternal feeding practices through age 3 years

Expert guidance encourages interventions promoting structure-based practices to establish predictable eating environments in order to foster children's self-regulatory skills. However, few studies have examined whether and how child characteristics may moderate effects of interventions on maternal feeding practices. This analysis aimed to examine the effect of the INSIGHT Responsive Parenting (RP) intervention delivered largely during infancy, on child appetitive traits at 2.5 years and maternal feeding practices at 3 years. Primiparous mother-newborn dyads were randomized to a RP intervention designed for obesity prevention or a safety control intervention. Mothers completed the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire at 2.5 years and the Structure and Control in Parent Feeding Questionnaire at 3 years. T-tests assessed study group differences on child appetitive traits at 2.5 years and maternal feeding practices at age 3. ANCOVA models assessed the effect of study group on parent feeding practices and tested appetitive traits as a moderator. Two hundred thirty-two mother-child dyads completed the trial. Mothers were predominantly white, non-Hispanic, college educated, and married. RP group mothers used more consistent meal routines, and less pressure, food to soothe, and food as reward compared to controls. Child satiety responsiveness moderated the RP intervention effect on maternal use of limiting exposure to unhealthy foods such that the RP intervention was most effective for children at higher levels of satiety responsiveness. Food responsiveness moderated RP intervention effects on maternal use of pressure, such that at lower levels of food responsiveness, control group mothers used more pressure than RP mothers. The INSIGHT RP intervention demonstrated sustained effects on maternal feeding practices through age 3 years, with some intervention effects showing moderation by child appetitive traits.

Parental Child-feeding in the Context of Child Temperament and Appetitive Traits: Evidence for a Biopsychosocial Process Model of Appetite Self-Regulation and Weight Status.

Pediatric obesity is a serious public health challenge and there is a need for research that synthesizes the various linkages among the child and parental factors that contribute to pediatric overweight and obesity. The main objective of this study was to examine potential mechanisms and pathways that might explain how child temperament is indirectly related to child body composition through appetitive traits and parental child-feeding practices. Participants consisted of 221 children between 4–6 years of age (51% males, mean age = 4.80 years, standard deviation = 0.85) and their parents (90.5% biological mothers, (Mage) = 32.02 years, (SDage) = 6.43) with 71% of the parents being married. Study variables included child temperament (negative affectivity and effortful control), child appetitive traits (food avoidance and food approach), controlling parental child-feeding practices (restrictive feeding and pressure to eat), and child body composition. Body composition were indexed by parent perceptions, body mass index (BMI), and percent body fat. Results showed that children with low levels of effortful control are more prone to exhibit food avoidance, which in turn is likely to elicit parental pressure to eat that in turn is linked to high child weight status. In addition, children with high levels of negative affectivity are prone to exhibit a food approach, which in turn is likely to elicit restrictive feeding from parents that in turn is linked to high child objective weight status. Findings situate controlling parental child-feeding practices in the context of child temperament and appetitive traits using a biopsychosocial framework of appetite self-regulation and weight. Results highlight that child appetite self-regulation processes and parental child-feeding practices could be essential components to target in childhood obesity preventive interventions.

Infants with big appetites: The role of a nonfood environment on infant appetitive traits linked to obesity

Individual differences in appetitive traits present in the first few weeks of life. Research has shown that infants with a greater food reinforcement ratio (FRR) have higher obesity risk. To date, limited work hasexamined the relation between FRR and appetitive traits of infants, and how FRR relates to appetitive traits and obesity development. To examine the relation between appetitive traits and food and nonfood reinforcement of infants aged 9-18 mo, and to examine whether food and nonfood reinforcement mediate the relation between appetitive traits and weight-for-length z-score (zWFL). This secondary data analysis was conducted by combining 4 different cohorts of infants (n=143) who have complete data on the food/nonfood reinforcement task, Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire, and anthropometrics and demographics assessments. Three different nonfood reinforcers were used: video (DVD; n=27), playing with bubbles (Bubbles; n=67), and music accompanied by instruments (Music; n=49) for the nonfood portion of the task. For the food portion of the task, the infant's favorite food was used. General appetite positively correlated with FRR and zWFL, but negatively correlated with nonfood reinforcement; satiety responsiveness negatively correlated with food reinforcement, FRR, and zWFL. Mediational analysis showed that effects of general appetite on zWFL were mediated by FRR (indirect effect=0.100, 95% CI: 0.041, 0.187) and nonfood reinforcement (indirect effect=0.076, 95% CI: 0.025, 0.156). We also observed the mediating effect of FRR on the relation of satiety responsiveness and zWFL (indirect effect = -0.097, 95% CI: -0.204, -0.026). Our work contributes to the mechanistic understanding of the ontogeny of obesity development early in life among individuals who are born with appetitive drive for overconsumption. During early infancy, the nonfood environment may protect against this drive and prevent obesity development.

Ultra-processed food consumption, appetitive traits and BMI in children: a prospective study.

This study aimed to investigate the association of ultra-processed food consumption at 4 and 7 years of age with appetitive traits at 7 years and BMI at 10 years of age. Participants were 1175 children of the population-based birth cohort Generation XXI, who provided food diaries and complete data on socio-demographic variables, anthropometric measures and the Portuguese Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (P-CEBQ). Foods were grouped according to NOVA classification into: 'unprocessed, minimally or moderately processed, and culinary preparations'; 'processed' and 'ultra-processed'. To assess tracking of groups' consumption, Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Generalised linear models were fitted to test main associations, mediators and interactions among the variables. Ultra-processed consumption exhibited a fair level of stability between ages 4 and 7 years (r 0·34; ICC = 0·32; 95 % CI 0·25, 0·39), corresponding, respectively, to 27·3 % (1881·9 (SD 908·8) kJ/d) and 29·3 % (2204·5 (SD 961·1) kJ/d) of total energy intake. After adjusting for maternal and child characteristics, higher ultra-processed consumption at 4 years was associated directly with 'Food Responsiveness' (β = 0·019; 95 % CI 0·007, 0·037) and indirectly through energy intake with avoidant traits: 'Food Fussiness' (β = -0·007; 95 % CI 0·002, 0·012) and 'Satiety Responsiveness' (β = -0·007; 95 % CI 0·003, 0·012). Ultra-processed consumption at 4 years old was associated with BMI at 10 years old, but appetitive behaviours were not powerful mediators of this association. The results suggest a path by which ultra-processed products may impact on later appetitive traits and higher BMI in children.

Rationale, design and study protocol of the ‘Strong Families Start at Home’ feasibility trial to improve the diet quality of low-income, ethnically diverse children by helping parents improve their feeding and food preparation practices

There is an urgent need to create effective interventions that help parents establish a healthy diet among their children early in life, especially among low-income and ethnically and racially diverse families. U.S. children eat too few fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and too many energy dense foods, dietary behaviors associated with increased morbidity from chronic diseases. Parents play a key role in shaping children's diets. Best practices suggest that parents should involve children in food preparation, and offer, encourage and model eating a variety of healthy foods. In addition, while parents help to shape food preferences, not all children respond in the same way. Certain child appetitive traits, such as satiety responsiveness (sensitivity to internal satiety signals), food responsiveness (sensitivity to external food cues), and food fussiness may help explain some of these differences. Prior interventions to improve the diet of preschool children have not used a holistic approach that targets the home food environment, by focusing on food quality, food preparation, and positive feeding practices while also acknowledging a child's appetitive traits. This manuscript describes the rationale and design for a 6-month pilot randomized controlled trial, Strong Families Start at Home, that randomizes parents and their 2-to 5-year old children to either a home-based environmental dietary intervention or an attention-control group. The primary aim of the study is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and evaluation and to determine the intervention's preliminary efficacy on child diet quality, feeding practices, and availability of healthy foods in the home.

Observed restrictive feeding practices among low-income mothers of pre-adolescents.

To describe verbal and non-verbal restrictive feeding practices used by low-income mothers with their pre-adolescent children during a laboratory-based protocol, and examine associations between mother/child anthropometrics, child appetitive traits and mothers' restrictive practices. Mothers and children (dyad n = 108, mean child age = 11.0 years [SD = 1.2]) were provided a standardized meal and then buffet of desserts. Sessions were video-recorded, and trained coders reliably identified positive and negative restrictive statements, non-verbal restrictive behaviours and redirection to healthier foods. Mother/child anthropometrics were measured by trained study staff and child appetitive traits reported by mothers using subscales of the Children's Eating Behaviours Questionnaire. Negative binomial regression was used to examine associations between mother/child characteristics and restrictive practices. Nearly all mothers (89.8%) engaged in restrictive feeding during the dessert buffet. Positive restrictive statements were the most common form of restriction (mean statements/10 minutes = 3.2 [SD = 3.1]). No associations were observed between children's body mass index (BMI) or appetitive traits and mothers' restrictive feeding practices. Associations of small effect size were observed between mothers' BMI, use of positive restrictive statements (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.98 [0.96-0.996]) and non-verbal restrictive behaviours (IRR = 0.96 [0.93-0.99]). Laboratory-based feeding protocols can objectively assess nuances in restrictive feeding practices. Further research is needed to understand how specific approaches to restriction affect children's eating behaviours and weight.

Association of Appetitive Traits of Schoolchildren with Obesity and Those of Their Mothers

Abstract Objectives To measure appetitive traits (AT) in mother-child dyads with obesity and identify the association between the ATs of the mothers and Body Mass Index (BMI) and the ATs of the child and BMI z-scores (BMIz). Methods In a cross-sectional study children with obesity accompanied by their biological mothers participated at the Hospital. The weight and height of the dyads were measured and mother's completed sociodemographic data and the Spanish versions of the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (AEBQ-Esp), and the Children Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ-Mex). These questionnaires measure stable responses to food known as ATs using 8 subscales (traits). Four food approach traits: Food Responsiveness (FR), Emotional Over-eating (EOE), Enjoyment of Food (EF), and Desire to Drink (DD) (DD in children only); and 4 food avoidance traits: Satiety Responsiveness (SR), Emotional Under-eating (EUE), Food Fussiness (FF) and Slowness in eating (SE). Pearson´s correlations to analyze the associations between the AEBQ-Esp ATs and BMI of the mothers and the CEBQ-Mex ATs and BMIz of the children. Results Data from 308 dyads were collected. The age of the mothers was 36.1 ± 6.9 years, 39% had secondary school level education, 72% were housewives; BMI was 31.8 ± 6.3 kg/m2 and 59% were diagnosed with obesity. The age of the schoolchildren was 9.3 ± 1.8 years, 59.7% boys, and the BMIz were 2.6 ± 1.0 SD. There was a significant positive correlation between EOE and BMI (r = 0.12, P &amp;lt; 0.05). In children, positive significant correlations were found between BMIz and FR (r = 0.23, P &amp;lt; 0.01), EOE (r = 0.29, P &amp;lt; 0.01), EF (r = 0.20, P &amp;lt; 0.01) and DD (r = 0.16, P &amp;lt; 0.05), and negative with SE (r = −0.17, P &amp;lt; 0.01). Conclusions Positive association were observed between food approach ATs and BMIs of the mothers and BMIz of the children; negative associations were found with food avoidance traits and BMIs of the mothers and BMIz of the children, as expected. Funding Sources Universidad de Guadalajara and Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de México.

Infant Appetite Traits and Early Infant Feeding Practices in Low-Income Hispanic Families

Abstract Objectives This study examined the association of infant appetite traits and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), BF intensity, early introduction of complementary foods/liquids and 100% fruit juice consumption among Hispanic infants during the first year of life. Methods This study is a cross-sectional analysis of data collected from the “Starting Early Program" randomized controlled obesity prevention trial of low-income, Hispanic mother-child pairs (n = 533). Four infant appetite traits including Food Responsiveness (FR), Enjoyment of Food (EF), Satiety Responsiveness (SR), and Slowness in Eating (SE) were assessed using the Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Each appetite trait was based on a 5-point Likert frequency scale. Infant feeding measures were collected using 24-hour recall methodology and survey based on the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. Linear and logistic regressions assessed the associations between appetite traits and infant feeding practices, specifically 1) EBF, 2) BF intensity (% of daily milk consumption that is breast milk), 3) early introduction to complementary foods/liquids defined as receiving prior to infant age 4 months, and 4) Any 100% fruit juice consumption at age 10 months. Results Of the 473 children with both appetite and infant feeding measures, 48% were male with mean birth weight of 3.4 kg. After adjusting for confounders, infants with higher SE scores had higher odds of EBF duration (≥3 months) (OR = 1.7, P &amp;lt; 0.001), and higher odds of having medium (20% ≤ score ≤ 80%) and high (&amp;gt;80%) BF intensity (OR = 1.8, P = 0.002; OR = 2.5, P &amp;lt; 0.001), compared to infants with lower SE scores. Infants with higher SE and SR were less likely to receive early complementary foods/liquids (OR = 0.59, P = 0.026; OR = 0.51, P = 0.009). Infants with higher EF were more likely to consume any 100% fruit juice at age 10 months (OR = 1.7, P = 0.047). The other appetite traits were not significantly related to infant feeding measures. Conclusions Higher SE was associated with greater EBF and BF intensity. Infants with higher SE and SR were less likely to have early introduction to complementary foods/liquids. Infants with higher EF were more likely to have juice at 10 months. Appetite traits are associated with potentially obesogenic feeding practices and may represent a target for early life infant feeding interventions. Funding Sources USDA AFRI.

Changes in Eating Behaviors and Confidence Towards Cooking After an 8-Week Online Cooking and Nutrition Tutorials in Adults Living with an Overweight Condition or Obesity

Abstract Objectives This study tested the impact of online cooking and nutrition tutorials on eating behaviours and psychosocial determinants of cooking skills among adults living with an overweight condition or obesity. Methods Healthy adults 18–65 y living with an overweight condition or obesity (25 &amp;lt; body mass index [BMI] &amp;lt; 40 kg/m2) living in the greater Montreal (Quebec) Canada were randomized (1:1:1) to one of three groups: Control [Ctrl; weekly delivery of food with paper-based recipes], Nutrition [weekly delivery of food, access to online cooking and nutrition tutorials] or Behaviour [weekly delivery of food, access to online cooking and eating behaviour tutorials] over 8 weeks. Cooking and education videos were &amp;lt;4 min long total and were viewed through private YouTube links. At baseline and 8 weeks, anthropometrics and sociodemographic were surveyed, as were appetitive traits (i.e., Food Responsiveness, Hunger, Emotional Overeating, Enjoyment of Food, Satiety Responsiveness, Food Fussiness, Emotional Undereating and Slowness in Eating) using the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire [AEBQ]. Cooking barriers and confidence towards cooking, confidence in consuming fruits and vegetables and self-efficacy were also assessed. Mixed model ANOVAs were used to test for differences among groups over time. Results At baseline, forty-eight participants with a mean age of 34.0 ± 12.9 y and BMI of 30.2 ± 4.5 kg/m2 were enrolled. Significant differences were seen in the Slowness in Eating subscale between Behaviour (1.64 ± 0.98) and Ctrl (2.46 ± 0.88) (P &amp;lt; 0.02). At 8 weeks, Emotional Overeating scores significantly decreased in both Nutrition and Behaviour compared to Ctrl (P = 0.03). Other AEBQ subscales did not vary by time or group. From baseline to 8 weeks, all groups significantly increased scores for confidence towards cooking (P &amp;lt; 0.001), confidence in consuming of fruits and vegetables (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and general self-efficacy (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusions The weekly provision of food baskets with online cooking and nutrition tutorials elicited changes in eating behaviours in adults living with an overweight condition and obesity. Future studies including a long-term follow-up and larger sample size are needed to confirm these positive findings. Funding Sources R. Howard Webster Foundation.

Assessing the Moderating Effect of Parental Feeding Styles on the Association Between Satiety Responsiveness and Child BMI Z-Scores in Chilean Preschoolers Aged 3–5 Years

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the moderating effect of feeding styles on the association between satiety responsiveness and child BMI z-scores in children aged 3-to-5 in Santiago, Chile. Methods Participants were recruited from childcare centers serving low- and middle-income families in 2017 and 2018. During a face-to-face individual interview, the Caregiver Feedings styles Questionnaire and food responsiveness subscale of the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire were applied to parents. Weight and height were obtained for children and caregivers. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to test the moderating effect of feeding styles on the relationship between satiety responsiveness and child BMI z-scores. Results 92.5% of caregivers were mothers, the parent BMI was 29.2 (SD = 5.7). No feeding style moderated the association between satiety responsiveness and BMI z-score Satiety responsiveness had a significant main effect on child BMI z score. None of the feeding styles was significantly associated with child BMI z-score. Only satiety responsiveness was significantly associated with child BMI z score (B = –.32, P &amp;lt; 0.05) after controlling for parent BMI (B = .047, P &amp;lt; .05). This model accounted for 12% of the variance of the child BMI z-score. 1.1% of the children were underweight, 22.4% normal, 37.9% overweight and 38.5% obese Conclusions Parent perceptions of higher satiety responsiveness suggests an association with lower child BMI z-scores. This study suggests that how children respond to food may play an important role in explaining child weight status. than the parent's or caregiver style of feeding in determining a child's weight status. Further research is required to discard interaction effects between appetite traits and feeding styles to explain child weight status. Funding Sources National Comission of scientific Research and Technology (CONICYT) and its Becas Chile program 2016 (#72,110,561) Center of Latin American Studies (CLACS) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Appetitive traits in children aged 6 to 12 years: association with obesity and differences by gender.

Overweight and obesity in schoolchildren are a major public health problem in Mexico. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the association of appetitive traits with the presence of obesity and identify gender differences in children attending a university hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 176 children with obesity and 175 children with normal weight in the outpatient clinic of the Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara. The body mass index (BMI) of the participants was calculated. The parents completed the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire to measure eight appetitive traits. The mean appetitive trait scores were compared between children with obesity and normal weight, and between genders. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-tests for independent samples and regression analysis between appetite traits and BMI Z-scores. The mean food responsiveness score (or food onset appetitive trait) was higher in children with obesity (p < 0.001), while the mean satiety responsiveness (or food offset trait) was higher in children with normal weight (p < 0.001). Normal weight males showed higher scores for Food responsiveness, Emotional over-eating, and Desire to drink (p < 0.05). Children with obesity show appetitive traits that could lead to higher food consumption. Normal weight males showed appetitive traits that could represent a risk of developing obesity.

Rasgos del apetito en niños de 6 a 12 años: asociación con la obesidad y diferencias por sexo

Background Overweight and obesity in schoolchildren are a major public health problem in Mexico. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the association of appetitive traits with the presence of obesity and identify gender differences in children attending a university hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 176 children with obesity and 175 children with normal weight in the outpatient clinic of the Nuevo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara. The body mass index (BMI) of the participants was calculated. The parents completed the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire to measure eight appetitive traits. The mean appetitive trait scores were compared between children with obesity and normal weight, and between genders. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-tests for independent samples and regression analysis between appetite traits and BMI Z-scores. Results The mean food responsiveness score (or food onset appetitive trait) was higher in children with obesity (p Conclusions Children with obesity show appetitive traits that could lead to higher food consumption. Normal weight males showed appetitive traits that could represent a risk of developing obesity.

Associations between appetitive traits, dietary patterns and weight status of children attending the School Kids Intervention Program.

The nexus between appetitive traits, dietary patterns and weight status has predominantly been studied in a mixed sample (healthy weight, overweight and obese sample). This cross-sectional study examined associations between overweight/obese children's appetitive traits, dietary patterns and weight status. We studied children (N = 58, body mass index z-score: 2.25±0.46), 4-12 years attending the School Kids Intervention Program. Children's appetitive traits and dietary patterns were measured with the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and Children's Dietary Questionnaire, respectively. Children's height and weight were used to compute body mass index z-score; waist circumference was also measured and waist-to-height ratio was calculated. After controlling for children's age and gender, hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that lower scores for slowness in eating were associated with higher body mass index z-scores in children (β = -0.31, p = 0.01). Higher scores for emotional overeating were associated with higher waist-to-height ratio in children (β = 0.48, p = 0.01). Higher scores for fussiness were correlated with lower scores for fruits and vegetables (β = -0.59, p < 0.001) and higher scores for non-core foods (β = 0.26, p = 0.04). Results observed in the current sample of overweight and obese children are consistent with previous studies examining healthy-weight children. Slowness in eating may foster an obesity 'protective' effect, whereas emotional overeating may promote susceptibility to weight gain. Fussy eating may impair diet quality by lower consumption of vegetables and fruits and higher intake of non-core foods. This evidence will support dietitians to consider children's appetitive traits when providing dietary consultation to support obesity management among overweight/obese children.

Reliability and Validity Study of the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire in Chinese School-Age Children.

Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) was widely used in western countries to measure children's eating behavior and played an important role in the research on the risk of childhood obesity, but it is rarely used in China yet. This study aimed to examine the Chinese version of CEBQ's reliability and validity in a pilot study, then applied it to bigger population. Data was collected with CEBQ in two districts of Shanghai, respectively. Using stratified cluster sampling method, a total of 2,520 children were included in the study. The questionnaires were filled out by children's parents. It was proved that the Cronbach's coefficient α of the questionnaire was greater than 0.7, indicating that the questionnaire had good internal consistency. Aside from the subscales 'Emotional undereating' and 'Food fussiness', the Pearson's correlation coefficients of the other subscales were all greater than 0.5. It showed that test-retest reliability of CEBQ was acceptable. We found that boys and girls had different eating behavior characteristics. And there was a graded association between eating behavior and nutritional status of school-age children. It suggested that appetitive traits of school-age children could be used as indicators of susceptibility to weight gain. In conclusion, the Chinese version of CEBQ was of good reliability and validity, so it is considered as a reliable tool that can be applied to Chinese school-age children's eating behavior and related studies.

Mothers’ eating style’s influence on their feeding practices and on their children’s appetite traits

Background: Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents has become an important public health concern in the last decades. To study the way mothers and children’s behavioral factors interact with each other, influencing eating and body weight, may provide information to be used in preventive and treatment strategies.Goals: To study the association of mothers’ eating style on their feeding behavior and on their children’s eating behavior.Methods: Cross-sectional observational study with a non-probabilistic sample of mother and child dyads (from three schools). Mothers’ eating behavior (assessed with Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire scale; DEBQ) was classified and they were grouped into three eating styles: restrictive, emotional-external or neutral styles. Mothers’ feeding restriction, pressure to eat and concern about child’s weight were assessed (through the Child Feeding Questionnaire; CFQ). Finally, mothers classified their child’s appetite behaviors (with the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire; CEBQ).Results: Overall, participated 279 mothers, aged between 23 and 59 years (Mean= 38.03 years, SD=5.09) and respective children (n=279), aged between 6 and 13 years (Mean= 9.43 years, SD= 1.35), 140 of those were females (50.2 %). Associations between mothers’ eating style, their feeding behaviors and children’s appetite traits showed that restrictive and emotional-external eating mothers had higher scores of CFQ and CEBQ items related with obesity, when compared to neutral eating style mothers. Mothers’ feeding restriction and children’s weight concern associated positively with children’s food approach behaviors (enjoyment of food, food responsiveness, emotional over-eating), and negatively with food avoidance behaviors (satiety responsiveness and slowness in eating). On the contrary, pressure to eat associated positively with food avoidance behaviors and negatively with food approach behaviors. Mother´s concern about child weight and feeding restriction were positively associated with CEBQ subscales that reflect food approach and negatively associated with subscales that reflect food avoidance. Pressure to eat had the symmetric associations. Discussion: Results support the hypothesis of the transmission of eating behaviors that promote obesity from mothers to children, and have implications both for prevention and children and adolescents’ obesity treatment. Therefore, mothers should be a part of the intervention when treating their children obesity