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Adiposity and 'eating in the absence of hunger' in children

C Hill1, C H Llewellyn, J Saxton

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Cancer Research UK Health Behavior Research Centre, University College London, London, UK.

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|July 23, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) is linked to increased adiposity in boys, showing a graded association across weight categories. This behavior was less pronounced in girls, possibly due to social factors.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Behavioral Science
  • Childhood Obesity Research

Background:

  • Eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) is a complex behavior potentially influencing childhood adiposity.
  • Understanding EAH's relationship with weight status is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) and adiposity in children.
  • To explore potential sex differences in the EAH-adiposity relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Two cross-sectional studies involving 348 children (aged 7-9) and 316 children (aged 9-12).
  • EAH operationalized as intake of palatable snacks post-meal; adiposity assessed via BMI standard deviation scores.
  • Children categorized into underweight, healthy weight, and overweight/obese groups.

Main Results:

  • EAH demonstrated a significant positive association with adiposity in boys across all weight categories.
  • No significant association was found between EAH and adiposity in girls.
  • A quadratic trend in girls suggested EAH increased then decreased across weight ranges.

Conclusions:

  • EAH is a behavioral phenotype associated with adiposity across the weight spectrum, particularly in boys.
  • The weaker association in girls may be influenced by social desirability pressures affecting food intake.
  • Findings highlight the need for sex-specific considerations in EAH research and interventions.
Abstract

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