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Inter-individual differences in children's short-term energy compensation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nicole A Reigh1, Alaina L Pearce1, Barbara J Rolls1

  • 1The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|September 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children often overeat after a preload, showing poor energy compensation. Children with overweight or obesity undercompensated more than healthy-weight peers, indicating weight status impacts energy regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric nutrition and metabolism
  • Behavioral science and appetite regulation

Background:

  • Energy intake regulation is crucial for maintaining energy balance, especially in children.
  • The preloading paradigm is commonly used to assess short-term energy compensation, but significant variability exists in pediatric studies.
  • Understanding factors influencing this variability is essential for accurate assessment of children's energy regulation.

Approach:

  • A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following standard guidelines, searching PubMed, PsychInfo, and Web of Science.
  • Data from 29 experiments were extracted, with 13 included in meta-analyses, focusing on study design and participant characteristics.
  • The energy compensation index (COMPx) was the primary outcome, with random intercept-only models used to test associations with sex, age, and weight status.

Key Points:

  • Children demonstrated undercompensation, meaning they overate relative to the preload energy consumed (β = -0.38; P = 0.008).
  • No significant associations were found between energy compensation and child's sex (β = 0.11; P = 0.76), age (β = 0.03; P = 0.75), or continuous weight (β = -0.07, P = 0.37).
  • Children with overweight/obesity showed significantly greater undercompensation compared to healthy-weight children (β = 0.18; P = 0.04).

Conclusions:

  • Significant variability exists in children's energy compensation, with weight status being a key differentiating factor.
  • Standardization of preloading protocols and adequately powered studies are recommended to better understand inter-individual differences.
  • Alternative methods to COMPx may be necessary for a more comprehensive characterization of children's energy compensation abilities.
Abstract

Keywords:
COMPxchildreneating behaviorenergy compensationinter-individual differencesmeal intervalpediatric obesitypreloadsatietysex differences

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