The Role of Top-Down Appetite Self-Regulation in the Development of Healthy Eating Behaviors Among Children: A Narrative Review and Socialization Framework

Authors

• David J Bridgett
• Sheryl O Hughes
• Matthew Broussard
• Daniela McCourt
• Christina M Croce
• Jennifer O Fisher

Language

English

Publication Date

3-1-2026

Journal

Appetite

PMCID

PMC13177442

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-16-2026

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Appetite self-regulation (ASR) among children is thought to have a fundamental role in shaping the development of healthy eating behaviors, dietary intake, and growth during childhood. Parallel to developmental frameworks for understanding "general" self-regulation among children, ASR has been described as involving children's use of "top-down" cognitive processes to moderate "bottom-up" biological drives around food approach and avoidance in the interest of achieving desired eating behaviors or outcomes. Whereas bottom-up ASR processes during early childhood are well characterized, particularly in the context of dysregulation and obesity risk, the role of top-down ASR processes in the development of healthy eating behaviors is virtually unstudied. The purpose of this narrative review is to bring together diverse research literatures in developmental psychology, food parenting, and ingestive behavior to articulate a role for top-down ASR in the development of healthy eating behaviors in early childhood and highlight putative socialization influences. We draw from a large literature on executive functioning in children to articulate how top-down ASR may be recruited in the service of achieving desired eating outcomes and draw from the developmental literature to highlight the potential avenues of socialization for top-down ASR processes.

Keywords

Humans, Child, Diet, Healthy, Self-Control, Feeding Behavior, Socialization, Child Behavior, Child, Preschool, Parenting, Appetite, Child Development, Health Behavior

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Bridgett, David J; Hughes, Sheryl O; Broussard, Matthew; et al., "The Role of Top-Down Appetite Self-Regulation in the Development of Healthy Eating Behaviors Among Children: A Narrative Review and Socialization Framework" (2026). Faculty, Staff and Students Publications. 3498.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/3498