Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications
Publication Date
7-23-2022
Journal
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
DOI
10.1186/s12966-022-01323-y
PMID
35870976
PMCID
PMC9308918
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
7-23-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Body Mass Index, Child, Child Behavior, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Eating, Feeding Behavior, Humans, Obesity, Surveys and Questionnaires, Children, Eating behavior, Food approach, Food avoidance, Temperament, Obesity
Abstract
Background: Individual differences in eating behaviors among young children are well-established, but the extent to which behaviors aggregate within individuals to form distinct eating behavior profiles remains unknown. Our objectives were to identify eating behavior profiles among preschool-aged children and evaluate associations with temperament and weight.
Methods: A secondary, cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 2 cohort studies was conducted involving 1004 children aged 3-4 years and their parents with low-income backgrounds. Children's eating behaviors and temperament were assessed by parental report. Body mass index z-scores and weight status were calculated using measured heights and weights. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to generate profiles and bivariate analyses were used to evaluate associations with temperament and weight status.
Results: LPA revealed the presence of 3 eating behavior profiles among children. Children with High Food Approach profiles (21.2%) had lower temperamental inhibitory control and the highest percent of children with obesity relative to the other profiles. Children with High Food Avoidant profiles (35.6%) had lower temperamental impulsivity and lower BMI z-scores relative to the other profiles, whereas children with Moderate Eating profiles (intermediary levels of all behaviors; 43.2%) had higher temperamental inhibitory control and lower anger/frustration, than other profiles.
Conclusions: Young children's eating behaviors appear to aggregate within individuals to form empirically distinct profiles reflecting food approach, food avoidance, and moderate approaches to eating that are differentiated by aspects of temperament and weight. Future work should seek to understand the extent to which health promotion and obesity prevention approaches should be tailored to take into account children's fundamental dispositions towards eating.
Included in
Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Commons, Nutrition Commons