Children's eating behaviour: A comparison between normal, overweight and obese children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant global health issue with increasing prevalence.
• Eating behaviors, particularly responsiveness to internal satiety and external food cues, are linked to obesity.
• Limited research exists on the association between children's body mass index (BMI) and eating behaviors in Sabah, Malaysia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the association between children's eating behaviors and their nutritional status, defined by BMI.
• To investigate the role of specific eating behaviors in childhood obesity within a Malaysian urban context.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 484 children aged 6-12 years in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
• Children's eating behaviors were assessed using the Children Eating Behaviour Questionnaires (CEBQ).
• Nutritional status was determined by calculating age-adjusted BMI z-scores according to WHO guidelines.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of childhood obesity among participants was 13.2%.
• Overweight and obese children exhibited higher mean scores on the 'Food Approach' subscales of the CEBQ compared to normal-weight children.
• Conversely, overweight and obese children showed lower mean scores on the 'Food Avoidance' subscales.

Conclusions:

• Childhood obesity is a prevalent health problem in this developing urban area.
• Positive associations were found between "Food Approach" eating behaviors and excess weight in children.
• Eating behaviors, specifically a tendency to approach food, are significantly associated with childhood obesity.