Australian 10-year-olds' perceptions of food. III. The influence of obesity status

Two studies were conducted which examined the relationships between 10-year-olds' body fat status and their perceptions of foods. The first study of 453 children showed that obese boys linked high-energy foods more to positive consequences, such as growth and satiation, than did slim boys. They also rated bread and potatoes as more fattening than did slim boys. In the second study, one-quarter randomized samples of 40 foods were presented to 500 children, on each of two forms on which the children rated the foods on eight attributes. Results of multivariate analyses showed that obese, average and slim children perceived foods differently along two general themes: (a) properties related to energy, and (b) tastiness-preference. The results are discussed in relation to possible social and physiological causes.