Appetitive traits from childhood to adolescence and cardiometabolic health

This study aimed to assess the association between appetitive trait trajectories from age 7 to 13 with cardiometabolic health at age 13 and evaluate the effect of fat mass as a mediating factor.

Participants were 3528 children from the Generation XXI cohort. Appetitive traits were assessed at ages 7,10, and 13 with the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Six appetitive trait trajectory profiles were previously identified: 'Moderate appetite', 'Small to moderate appetite', 'Increasing appetite', 'Avid appetite', 'Smallest appetite', and 'Small appetite but increasing'. At age 13, triglycerides, homeostatic-model assessment-insulin resistance, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) z-scores, and a cluster analysis of these parameters ('More favorable' and 'Less favorable' cardiometabolic profile) were considered. In regression models, the 'Avid appetite' profile, characterized by a strong appetite and interest in food, was associated with higher estimates of all cardiometabolic parameters at age 13 (inverse for HDL-c), compared to the 'Smallest appetite', characterized by a reduced appetite and low interest in food. Fat mass significantly mediated these associations. Individuals in the 'Avid appetite' profile had 12 times higher odds of being classified into the 'Less favorable cardiometabolic profile' (OR = 12.01; 95 %CI: 7.77,18.57) than those in the 'Smallest appetite' profile.

Adolescents exhibited differences in cardiometabolic parameters based on their appetitive trait profiles. A persistent avid appetite was linked to higher cardiometabolic risk, and adiposity had a significant mediating effect. Managing risky appetitive traits during youth may improve future cardiometabolic health.