Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire Dimensions and Central Adiposity in Spanish Schoolchildren: Age-Stratified...

Background/Objectives: Elevated central adiposity (ECA) in childhood is associated with early cardiometabolic risk and hemodynamic alterations. However, evidence in Spanish schoolchildren regarding the relationship between eating behavior traits and central adiposity is limited, particularly across developmental stages. This study aimed to examine the association between Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) subscales and ECA, and to explore potential differences by age group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 496 rural schoolchildren aged 6-15 years. ECA was defined using the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and sex-specific cut-offs validated for the Spanish pediatric population. Eating behavior was assessed with the CEBQ (Z-scores), and diet quality was measured using the KIDMED index. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for sex, KIDMED score, and maternal education. Analyses were subsequently stratified by age (6-9 and 10-15 years). Results: The prevalence of ECA was 45.90%. In fully adjusted models, higher Food Responsiveness (FR) was associated with increased odds of ECA, while Satiety Responsiveness (SR) acted as a protective factor; sex also showed an independent association. After stratification, sex remained the only significant predictor in children aged 6-9 years. Among those aged 10-15 years, FR was significantly associated with ECA (p = 0.008), while Slowness in Eating (SE) showed a borderline positive association in the adjusted model (p = 0.049) and was therefore interpreted cautiously. SR and Emotional Undereating (EU) showed protective trends near significance (p = 0.081 and p = 0.082, respectively). Conclusions: The association between eating behavior traits and ECA varies by age. In older children, FR showed a robust association with ECA, whereas no behavioral predictors were observed in younger children. The protective role of SR in the global model and the emergence of behavioral predictors in older participants highlight the importance of targeted interventions during late childhood.