Child Eating Behavior Research Articles

Developmental Feeding Stages and Their Impact on Child Feeding Behavior.

Previous research has shown that critical periods of feeding skills development exist and feeding problems can arise in children due to delays in attaining feeding developmental milestones. This study aims to delineate the transitional process of feeding development in healthy children and children with gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs) and to examine the relationship between feeding milestones and the appearance of later feeding problems. A cross-sectional case-control study among 711 healthy Greek children and 119 children with GID, aged 2-7 years. Parents completed the Greek version of the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale and "self-reported" questionnaires assessing child's feeding history. Differences in feeding behavior of preschoolers between the 2 groups were found concerning the time of introduction of complementary (pureed), lumpy, and table foods as well as finger feeding and regular cup-drinking. Age-specific milestones as proposed by guidelines were not reached. Late introduction of complementary and lumpy foods (>6 months and >9 months, respectively) as well as finger feeding (>9 months) were predictive of more problematic feeding behaviors later on. The trajectory of feeding development, including less studied feeding milestones, both in healthy children and children with GIDs, indicates that there are discrepancies between current feeding practices and infant feeding guidelines, and a tendency to delay the acquisition of all assessed feeding milestones.

THE EFFECT OF HYPNOPARENTING AS AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE APPETITE OF PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WITH PICKY EATER

Picky eater is a child eating problem that is often complained of by parents which causes a low appetite at mealtimes, usually occurring in preschool-aged 3-5 years. Picky eaters accompanied by a decrease in appetite if left unchecked for a long time can cause children to lack nutritional intake which results in a low nutritional status of children. Parents' efforts are needed to fix children's eating problems, which is hypnoparenting. Hypnoparenting is applied as coaching children with the principle of hypnosis through suggestions given by parents to the child's subconscious mind. To determine the effect of hypnoparenting as an effort to improve the appetite of preschoolers with picky eaters. The research design uses pre-experimental with one group pretest posttest. The research respondents were 26 children aged 3-5 years. Data collection was carried out by filling out questionnaires (Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire and picky eater questionnaires) which were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Obtained from the results of the Wilcoxon analysis test, the significance value of appetite was p value 0.005 ≤ 0.05 and the picky eater's significance value was p value 0.000 ≤ 0.05, then Ha was accepted and H0 was rejected which means there is an influence of hypnoparenting as an effort to improve the appetite of preschool-aged children with picky eaters. 26 preschool-aged children (100%) have poor appetites with picky eaters before hypnoparenting, and 19 preschool-aged children (73.1%) have good appetites without being picky eaters so there are an influence on the appetite of preschool-aged children before and after hypnoparenting.

Taste and smell alterations affect nutritional status in children under chemotherapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of self-reported taste and smell alterations (TSA) in cancer paediatric patients and evaluate the impact of TSA on nutritional status in this population. We also developed and validated a composite score to detect TSA in children undergoing chemotherapy. Paediatric patients who were undergoing chemotherapy in a paediatric oncology unit were included. TSA were assessed from the Gustonco questionnaire from which a composite score was developed and internally validated, eating behaviour was assessed using Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, and major weight loss was defined from nutritional status. All data were calculated at 1, 3 and 6 months after chemotherapy start. Associations between nutritional status and scores were studied by using logistic models. Among 49 patients included, TSA occurred in 71.7% of patients at 1 month after chemotherapy start and persisted at 3 and 6 months. TSA led to altered appetite since 1 month after chemotherapy start. The occurrence of a major weight loss at 6 months seemed to be associated with a high Gustonco score. Taste and smell alterations often occurred in paediatric cancer patients after chemotherapy start and seemed to be associated with impaired nutrition at 6 months after chemotherapy.

Relationship between Sensory Processing Skills and Feeding Behaviors in Children Aged 3-6 Years with Cerebral Palsy with Cerebral Visual Impairment.

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between sensory processing skills and feeding behavior in cerebral palsy (CP) children aged 3-6 years with cerebral visual impairment (CVI). A total of ninety mothers participated in the study in three groups: thirty mothers of children with CP with CVI, thirty mothers of children with CP without CVI, and thirty mothers of children with typical development (TD). The sensory processing skill of the children was evaluated with the Sensory Profile (SP), and feeding behavior was evaluated with the the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS). In the triple comparison, a significant difference was found between the groups in all SP parameter and BPFAS scores (p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the groups in all parameters (p < 0.001). Feeding problems were detected in 65% of all groups. In the correlation analysis, a significant relationship was found between all parameters of the SP and the BPFAS (p < 0.05). In terms of sensory processing skills and feeding status, it was determined that children with CVI with CP had more problems than children with CP without CVI, and children with CP without CVI had more problems than children with TD. With these results, it was concluded that sensory processing problems affect feeding status, and visual impairment causes both sensory problems and feeding problems.

Picky Eating Behavior in Children and Its Affection on Intelligence Quotient

Picky Eating Behavior in Children and Its Affection on Intelligence Quotient

P24-092-23 The Association Between Anthropometric Status and Child Eating Behaviour Among Preschool Children Aged 2–4 Years in Some Rural Areas in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State Nigeria

P24-092-23 The Association Between Anthropometric Status and Child Eating Behaviour Among Preschool Children Aged 2–4 Years in Some Rural Areas in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State Nigeria

Nutrition Risk Through the Lens of Parent Perceived Child Eating Behavior and the Satter Division of Responsibility

Nutrition Risk Through the Lens of Parent Perceived Child Eating Behavior and the Satter Division of Responsibility

Associations between parental and pre-adolescents' physical activity and diet quality: The role of parental child care involvement and child's sex

BackgroundResearch has demonstrated the importance of the family environment in the eating and activity levels of offspring. We examined the cross-sectional associations between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and diet quality of parents and the MVPA and diet quality of pre-adolescents. Interactions were tested to assess whether the child's sex and the parental level of involvement in daily child care moderated these associations. MethodsData from 2467 pre-adolescents (age 11.5 ± 0.2 years; collected in 2015–2016) and their parents or caregivers from a large-scale prospective birth cohort study in Amsterdam (ABCD-study) was used. Parents and pre-adolescents individually reported their diet quality and physical activity. Child care involvement was assessed using the Caregiver Child Interaction Scale. With hierarchical linear regression analyses, we assessed the independent contribution of fathers and mothers. ResultsAn association between mother-child MVPA was found (β = 0.013; 95 % CI: 0.006;0.021). The association between father-child MVPA was only significant for highly involved fathers (β = 0.014; 95 % CI: 0.004;0.023). The child's sex did not change these MVPA associations. Regarding diet quality, associations were found between mother-child diet quality score (DQS) (β = 0.254; 95 % CI: 0.192;0.316) and father-child DQS, with stronger associations between fathers and sons (β = 0.234; 95 % CI: 0.169;0.298) than between fathers and daughters (β = 0.114; 95 % CI: 0.047;0.181). Parental levels of involvement did not change these associations. ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that both parental behaviours represent an important factor in physical activity and diet quality in pre-adolescents in a sex-specific manner. As such, it is essential to include both parents in research to obtain the necessary insights for developing effective interventions to promote children's healthy eating and physical activity behaviours.

Weight Gain in Early Infancy Impacts Appetite Regulation in the First Year of Life. A Prospective Study of Infants Living in Cyprus

BackgroundEating behavior is associated with weight gain in infancy and childhood. Few studies found a bidirectional association between weight gain and eating behavior development in childhood, but there is little data on the association in early infancy, a period critical for the programming of obesity risk. ObjectiveWe investigated the bidirectional association between appetite traits and weight gain during the first year of life. MethodsParticipants were part of a cohort of 432 infants born in Cyprus. Appetite traits were measured using the Baby Eating Behavior Questionnaire or the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire at age 2 to 4 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo. Weight and length were collected at birth, 4 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze associations between appetite traits at 2 to 4 wk and 6 mo and weight for age z-score change (WFAZC) between 4 wk and 6 mo and 6 and 12 mo. Associations were also analyzed in the opposite direction, between WFAZC from birth to 4 wk, 4 wk to 6 mo, and 6 mo to 12 mo and appetite traits at 4 wk, 6 mo, and 12 mo. ResultsSatiety responsiveness (SR) at 2 to 4 wk was associated with lower WFAZC from 4 wk to 6 mo (β: −0.17; 95% CI: −0.30, −0.04) and SR at age 6 mo was associated with lower WFAZC from 6 to 12 mo (β: −0.09; 95% CI: −0.17, −0.02). WFAZC from 4 wk to 6 mo was associated with higher enjoyment of food at 12 mo (β: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.20), higher food responsiveness at 12 mo (β: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.30), and lower SR at both 6 mo (β: −0.11; 95% CI: −0.21, −0.01) and 12 mo (β: −0.14; 95% CI: −0.24, −0.03). ConclusionsWe found a bidirectional association between weight gain and appetite traits in infancy, suggesting that the effect of postnatal weight gain on obesity development is partly mediated by programming of appetite traits.

Parent-reported child appetite moderates relationships between child genetic obesity risk and parental feeding practices.

Food parenting practices are associated with child weight. Such associations may reflect the effects of parents' practices on children's food intake and weight. However, longitudinal, qualitative, and behavioral genetic evidence suggests these associations could, in some cases, reflect parents' response to children's genetic risk for obesity, an instance of gene-environment correlation. We tested for gene-environment correlations across multiple domains of food parenting practices and explored the role of parent-reported child appetite in these relationships. Data on relevant variables were available for N = 197 parent-child dyads (7.54 ± 2.67 years; 44.4% girls) participating in RESONANCE, an ongoing pediatric cohort study. Children's body mass index (BMI) polygenic risk score (PRS) were derived based on adult GWAS data. Parents reported on their feeding practices (Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire) and their child's eating behavior (Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire). Moderation effects of child eating behaviors on associations between child BMI PRS and parental feeding practices were examined, adjusting for relevant covariates. Of the 12 parental feeding practices, 2 were associated with child BMI PRS, namely, restriction for weight control (β = 0.182, p = 0.011) and teaching about nutrition (β = -0.217, p = 0.003). Moderation analyses demonstrated that when children had high genetic obesity risk and showed moderate/high (vs. low) food responsiveness, parents were more likely to restrict food intake to control weight. Our results indicate that parents may adjust their feeding practices in response to a child's genetic propensity toward higher or lower bodyweight, and the adoption of food restriction to control weight may depend on parental perceptions of the child's appetite. Research using prospective data on child weight and appetite and food parenting from infancy is needed to further investigate how gene-environment relationships evolve through development.

Feeding practices and child stunting during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

Background. In the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of children suffering from stunting had escalated globally due to socio-economic challenges. This may worsen the nutritional status and health of children under 5 years. Objective. This study aimed to explore the parental feeding practices among children aged 24-59 months who have stunted growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods. Eleven semi-structured individual interviews were conducted involving primary caregivers of stunting children in the family. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Results. Three major themes were identified: i) child-feeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic; ii) feeding style among the primary caregivers of stunting children; iii) parents’ efforts to improve nutritional intake. This finding shows that child feeding is a complex interaction between parent-feeding practices and child-eating behavior that affect the nutritional status of children. Conclusions. The feeding practices of children suffering from stunting during the COVID-19 pandemic have been the greatest challenge faced by many caregivers. The accessibility of food, economic condition, and parental knowledge contributed to this situation. Healthcare providers are expected to strengthen nutrition education to improve proper feeding practices and provide support for families during the pandemic.

Implementation of a sample design for a survey of program participants using time-location sampling.

To assess the feeding practices and behaviors of women and young children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), USDA currently funds the longitudinal WIC Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 (WIC ITFPS-2). In 2013, the study used time-location sampling (TLS) to enroll a cohort of infants who participated in WIC around birth. The children are subsequently followed across their first six years of life, regardless of their participation in WIC, with an additional follow-up at age nine years. A woman may enroll her child in WIC either during pregnancy or postpartum. For this study, a representative sample of infants enrolled in WIC was desired. Because the associations between WIC prenatal support and education and feeding practices and behaviors are substantively important to this study, the sample needed to include both women enrolling their children prenatally and women enrolling their children postnatally. For prenatal WIC enrollees, we attempted to complete a prenatal interview with the mother prior to the child's birth. This paper describes the TLS approach used and the challenges addressed in implementation of the sample design and selection for the WIC ITFPS-2. Our approach generated a probability sample (subject to site geographic and size exclusions) using a stratified, multistage design, but there were challenges at each stage of selection. First, a WIC site was selected, and then newly enrolled WIC participants were sampled within selected sites during predetermined recruitment windows based on the site's average flow of new WIC enrollees. We discuss issues faced, including overcoming incomplete lists of individual WIC sites and discrepancies between projected new WIC enrollment counts and actual flow of new WIC enrollments during the recruitment period.

Association between stress and eating behaviour among Malaysian adolescents prior to examination

Studies have shown the prevalence of mental health and obesity among adolescents is at increasing trend due to urbanisation and changes in lifestyle. This study is to investigate the level of stress and its impact on eating behaviour among Malaysian adolescents. A total of 797 multi-ethnic Malaysian secondary school student participated in this cross-sectional study. Data was collected two weeks prior to final year examination. A validated Cohen Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire was used to assess the stress level with subsample analysis of 261 participants’ saliva cortisol level. A validated Child Eating Behaviour questionnaire was used to explore eating behaviours. There were 29.1% adolescents having high stress with the mean saliva cortisol 3.8 nmol/L. A positive correlation was observed between perceived stress and emotional overeating; stronger among urban (r = 0.32), female (r = 0.31), underweight (r = 0.34) and moderately stressed adolescents (r = 0.24). In addition, a positive correlation was found between perceived stress and food responsiveness; strongest among Malay (r = 0.23), male (r = 0.24), underweight (r = 0.30) and adolescents with high perceived stress (r = 0.24). The perceived stress level prior to exam period affects the emotional eating and external eating patterns of adolescents.

Mothers' descriptions of their feeding strategies in response to fussy eating with children of different levels of trait fussiness

Parent feeding practices influence a child's dietary intake. Many studies examining how parents react to children's fussy eating behaviours have been limited to questionnaire measures, which assess a limited number of feeding practices. There is a lack of research exploring the range of strategies parents use when their child is being fussy and/or refusing to eat. Therefore, the aims of this study are to describe the strategies used by mothers when their child is being fussy or refusing to eat, and to assess differences in the strategies depending on the child's trait fussiness levels. In 2018, 1504 mothers of children aged 2–5 years completed an online survey. Trait fussiness was assessed using the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Mothers were also asked the open-ended question “What are the strategies you use when your child is being fussy or refusing to eat?“. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo. Themes were compared by child trait fussiness levels. Seven main themes were identified: child-led feeding/trust in child's appetite, spectrum of pressure, home or family strategies, different types of food offerings, communication, avoid certain strategies, and never or rarely fussy. Mothers of children with severe trait fussiness levels reported more pressuring or persuasive strategies. This study provides novel information regarding the diverse range of feeding practices parents use in response to children's fussy eating behaviours. Mothers used more feeding strategies typically associated with unhealthy dietary intake for children of high levels of trait fussiness. It is important that future interventions tailor the information to provide support to parents of children with high levels of trait fussiness regarding the use of feeding practices recommended to support healthy dietary intake.

The role of rumination and the sadness emotion management skills in predicting emotional eating behavior of 9-12 year-old children with obesity and overweight

Introduction: Emotional eating behavior is considered one of the pathological eating behaviors, and the components related to it have special importance, especially in children and adolescents. Aim: The aim of the research was to investigate the role of rumination and sadness emotion management skills in predicting emotional eating behavior in overweight and obese children aged 9 to 12 years. Method: The descriptive research design was of the correlational type and the statistical population included obese and overweight children aged 9 to 12 in Hamedan City in 2019-2020. A total of 268 of these children were selected by convenient sampling method and responded to questionnaires of children’s responses to imaginal situations that Elicit Sadness (Lopez, 2006), Children’s Sadness Management Scale (Shipman and Penza-Clive, 2001), Emotional Eating Scale-Children (Tanfoski, 2007). To analyze the data, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were used with the help of SPSS-22. Results: The results of correlation analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between rumination variable and emotion regulation management skills with children's emotional eating behavior (P&lt;0.05). Also, based on the regression results, 45.4% and 53% of the variance of the variable of emotional eating behavior could be predicted with the help of the predictor variables dimensions of rumination and emotion regulation management skills (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The results indicated that there is a significant relationship between emotional eating behavior with rumination and ineffective strategies for managing the emotion of sadness in obese and overweight children. In order to prevent and treat obesity and overweight in children, it is important to pay attention to their psychological issues. It is suggested that more research be done, in the field of psychological causes of problems related to obesity and overweight.

Discordance between assessments of food cue responsiveness: Implications for assessment in youth with overweight/obesity

Food cue responsiveness (FCR), broadly defined as behavioral, cognitive, emotional and/or physiological responses to external appetitive cues outside of physiological need, contributes to overeating and obesity among youth and adults. A variety of measures purportedly assess this construct, ranging from youth- or parent-report surveys to objective eating tasks. However, little research has assessed their convergence. It is especially important to evaluate this in children with overweight/obesity (OW/OB), as reliable and valid assessments of FCR are essential to better understand the role of this critical mechanism in behavioral interventions. The present study examined the relationship between five measures of FCR in a sample of 111 children with OW/OB (mean age = 10.6, mean BMI percentile = 96.4; 70% female; 68% white; 23% Latinx). Assessments included: objectively measured eating in the absence of hunger (EAH), parasympathetic activity when exposed to food, parent reported food responsiveness subscale from the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ-FR), child self-reported Power of Food total score (C-PFS), and child self-reported Food Cravings Questionnaire total score (FCQ-T). Statistically significant spearman correlations were found between EAH and CEBQ-FR (ρ = 0.19, p < 0.05) and parasympathetic reactivity to food cues with both C-PFS (ρ = -0.32, p = 0.002) and FCQ-T (ρ = -0.34, p < 0.001). No other associations were statistically significant. These relationships remained significant in subsequent linear regression models controlling for child age and gender. The lack of concordance between measures assessing highly conceptually related constructs is of concern. Future studies should seek to elucidate a clear operationalization of FCR, examine the associations between FCR assessments in children and adolescents with a range of weight statuses, and evaluate how to best revise these measures to accurately reflect the latent construct being assessed.

Anggun Pranessia Anggrasari, S.K PARENT CARE PATTERNS WITH PICKY EATING BEHAVIOR IN PRE-SCHOOL AGE

Pre-school age children are a time when children need adequate nutrition for children's growth and development. This is just the opposite of eating behavior in children. At that age, parents often experience difficulties in feeding. A son has been able to choose the type of meal 's what you want to consume or often (picky eating) where children can refuse to eat given, mealtime be long until more than 30 minutes, or the child will only eat certain food-only. One of the efforts to overcome the problem of picky eating in children is to apply parenting in every child's life. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between parenting style and picky eating behaviorin pre-school age children at TK Bahtera Mojokerto. Researchers used a correlation design with a sample size of 60 parent respondents. The instruments used were the parenting style questionnaire and the picky eating behavior questionnaire which was adapted from previous research. The results of the study using the k chi square statistical test showed a p-value of 0.001, which means that there is a relationship between parenting styles and picky eating behavior in pre-school children. The hope is that by implementing proper parenting styles from an early age, it can make children's eating habits become regular and in accordance with the Nutritional Adequacy Rate needed by preschoolers.

Associations of parent feeding behaviors and early life food exposures with early childhood appetitive traits in an observational cohort study

PurposeChild appetitive traits, eating styles that reflect responsiveness to external influences and internal hunger and satiety signals, are associated with eating behaviors and susceptibility to excess weight gain. However, relatively little is known about early life influences on child appetitive traits. This study investigated relations of early life maternal feeding behaviors and food exposures with appetitive traits at age 3.5 years. MethodsParticipants of the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study (PEAS) and follow-up study were enrolled in early pregnancy and followed prospectively. This analysis included data collected from baseline through child aged 3.5-years (n = 160). Child appetitive traits at age 3.5 years were measured using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Age at introduction to fruit, vegetables, discretionary sweets, and discretionary savory foods was assessed, along with intake frequency at infant ages 6, 9, and 12 months, and 2 years. Maternal feeding to soothe was assessed at child aged 3, 6, and 12 months. Maternal permissive feeding was assessed at child aged 2 years. Multiple linear regressions estimated relations of maternal feeding behaviors and infant food exposures with child appetitive traits at age 3.5 years, controlling for sociodemographics and breastfeeding duration. ResultsMaternal feeding to soothe at 6 (r = 0.39, p < 0.001) and 12 months (r = 0.39, p < 0.001) was positively associated with permissive feeding at 2 years. Maternal feeding to soothe at 12 months and permissive feeding at 2 years were associated with greater child emotional overeating, emotional undereating, and desire to drink. Older age at introduction to fruit (β = 0.20±0.08, p = 0.01) and younger age at introduction to discretionary sweet foods (β = −0.07±0.04, p = 0.06) were associated with greater emotional overeating. Older age at introduction to vegetables (β = 0.22±0.11, p = 0.04) and less frequent feeding of fruit (β = −0.20±0.08, p = 0.01) were associated with greater food fussiness. ConclusionsAssociations of emotional eating with parent feeding behaviors and early life food exposures suggest the potential for interventions targeting early life feeding to have long-term impact on child appetitive traits and diet quality.

The Development of Appetite: Tracking and Age-Related Differences in Appetitive Traits in Childhood

Appetitive traits are associated with body weight. Increased understanding of how appetitive traits evolve from early life could advance research on obesity risk and inform intervention development. We report on tracking and age-related differences in appetitive traits in childhood within the RESONANCE cohort. Parents of RESONANCE children aged 6.02 ± 2.99 years completed the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Pearson correlations of appetitive traits and age were tested for all participants contributing at least one observation, using each participant's first observation (N = 335). Children's first and second observations of the CEBQ (n = 127) were used to test tracking (paired correlations) and age-related differences (paired t-tests) within individuals. CEBQ correlations with age suggested that satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating, emotional undereating, and desire to drink decreased with age (r = -0.111 to r = -0.269, all p < 0.05), while emotional overeating increased with age (r = 0.207, p < 0.001). Food fussiness demonstrated a quadratic relationship with age. Paired t-tests further supported an increase in emotional overeating with age (M: 1.55 vs. 1.69, p = 0.005). All CEBQ subscales demonstrated moderate to high tracking (r = 0.533 to r = 0.760, p < 0.001). Our initial findings within the RESONANCE cohort suggest that food avoidant traits are negatively related with age, while emotional overeating increases with age, and that appetitive traits track through childhood.

Characterization of a Vigorous sucking style in early infancy and its predictive value for weight gain and eating behaviors at 12 months

This study sought to identify sucking profiles among healthy, full-term infants and assess their predictive value for future weight gain and eating behaviors. Pressure waves of infant sucking were captured during a typical feeding at age 4 months and quantified via 14 metrics. Anthropometry was measured at 4 and 12 months, and eating behaviors were measured by parent report via the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire-Toddler (CEBQ-T) at 12 months. Sucking profiles were created using a clustering approach on the pressure wave metrics, and utility of these profiles was assessed for predicting which infants will have weight-for-age (WFA) percentile changes from ages 4–12 months that exceed thresholds of 5, 10, and 15 percentiles, and for estimating each CEBQ-T subscale score. Among 114 infants, three sucking profiles were identified: Vigorous (51%), Capable (28%), and Leisurely (21%). Sucking profiles were found to improve estimation of change in WFA from 4 to 12 months and 12-month maternal-reported eating behaviors above infant sex, race/ethnicity, birthweight, gestational age, and pre-pregnancy body mass index alone. Infants with a Vigorous sucking profile gained significantly more weight during the study period than infants with a Leisurely profile. Infant sucking characteristics may aid in predicting which infants may be at greater risk of obesity, and therefore sucking profiles deserve more investigation.