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Socioeconomic Position and Picky Eating Behavior Predict Disparate Weight Trajectories in Infancy

Amy T Galloway1,2, Paul Watson2,3, Suzanne Pitama4

  • 1Department of Psychology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, United States.

Frontiers in Endocrinology
|October 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Socioeconomic position and picky eating significantly impact infant weight gain. Low socioeconomic position combined with picky eating is linked to the lowest weight-for-length trajectories in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Infant weight gain is critical for long-term health outcomes.
  • Understanding factors influencing infant growth is essential for early intervention.
  • Socioeconomic position (SEP) and feeding practices may affect infant weight trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP), parental pressure during feeding, and picky eating with changes in infant weight-for-length (WFL).
  • To identify how these factors interact to influence infant growth patterns over time.

Main Methods:

  • A modified developmental design was employed with 193 families in New Zealand.
  • Primary caregivers reported on child's picky eating, parental pressure, and SEP.
  • Infant weight-for-length (WFL) data were collected at birth, 8, 15, and 21 months, analyzed using multi-level modeling.

Main Results:

  • An interaction was found between SEP and picky eating: infants with low SEP and who were not picky eaters had the highest WFL trajectory, while those with low SEP and who were picky eaters had the lowest.
  • Higher levels of parental pressure were associated with lower infant WFL at all ages.
  • Parental pressure did not interact with SEP or picky eating.

Conclusions:

  • Infant growth patterns are differentially associated with the interplay of eating behaviors and socioeconomic position.
  • Interventions aimed at achieving healthy childhood weight should consider both eating behaviors and SEP.
  • Targeted strategies addressing picky eating and socioeconomic disparities are crucial for promoting healthy infant development.

Keywords:
appetitive phenotypeinfant weight trajectorypicky eating behaviorpressure to eatsocioeconomic position

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