Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
04:48

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System

Published on: May 8, 2018

Children's Eating Behaviors and Energy Intake: Overlapping Influences and Opportunities for Intervention

Ciarán G Forde, Anna Fogel, Keri McCrickerd

    Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop Series
    |March 14, 2019
    PubMed

    Insights

    Early childhood eating behaviors like large portions and fast eating predict higher energy intake and obesity risk. These stable behaviors, linked to appetite traits and parental feeding, require holistic interventions for prevention.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Nutrition
    • Obesity Research
    • Behavioral Science

    Background:

    • Childhood obesity is a growing concern, often linked to early life risk factors.
    • Maladaptive eating behaviors emerging in early childhood can persist and contribute to excessive energy intake.
    • Understanding the trajectory from early risk factors to obesity is crucial for intervention.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine the association between eating behaviors, energy intake, and body composition in young children.
    • To investigate the stability of these eating behaviors over time.
    • To explore the role of appetitive traits and parental feeding practices.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of data from the Growing Up in Singapore towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort.
    • Assessment of eating behaviors (portion size, eating rate, eating when sated) at 4.5 and 6 years.
    • Measurement of energy intake, body composition, and Body Mass Index z-scores (BMIz).
    • Inclusion of parent-reported appetitive traits and feeding practices.

    Main Results:

    • Children with faster eating rates, larger portions, and continued eating when sated consumed more energy.
    • These eating behaviors were stable and independently predicted higher adiposity and BMIz scores.
    • Faster eating mediated the relationship between appetitive traits (satiety responsiveness, food fussiness) and energy intake.
    • Parental feeding practices were associated with eating rates, energy intake, and BMIz.

    Conclusions:

    • Early, stable eating behaviors significantly contribute to increased energy intake and adiposity in children.
    • Appetitive traits and parental feeding practices interact with eating behaviors, influencing energy consumption.
    • Holistic interventions targeting these behaviors and feeding practices are essential for preventing childhood obesity.

    More Related Videos

    Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil06:48

    Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

    Published on: July 29, 2020

    Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method06:21

    Concept Development and Use of an Automated Food Intake and Eating Behavior Assessment Method

    Published on: February 19, 2021

    Related Concept Videos

    Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

    Self-Discrepancy Theory

    One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
    Regulation of Food Intake01:30

    Regulation of Food Intake

    Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

    Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

    Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
    Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

    Environmental Influences on Intelligence

    Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
    Bulimia Nervosa01:30

    Bulimia Nervosa

    Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
    Binge Eating Disorders01:23

    Binge Eating Disorders

    Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...