Appetite-Related Eating Behaviours: An Overview of Assessment Methods, Determinants and Effects on Children’s Weight

Abstract

Identifying the underlying child-eating behaviours that contribute to weight differences across growth has been a constant challenge. This report reviews the various literature approaches for assessing appetite regulation. In doing so, it attempts to understand how appetite control develops and determines the eating habits in early childhood, and its effects on children’s weight status. The interaction between homeostatic and hedonic mechanisms largely explains the appetite regulation process. Homeostatic mechanisms are mediated by the biological need to maintain the body’s energy reserves, increasing the motivation to eat. On the contrary, the hedonic mechanisms are mediated by food reward, increasing the craving for high-palatable foods and triggering the release of dopamine and serotonin. There are many biological methods (plasma measurements of hormones, like leptin, ghrelin and insulin) and behavioural evaluation methods of appetite. The Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire is most commonly used, due to its adequate psychometric properties tested in several population settings. The development of eating behaviours begins in utero, and several determinants may contribute to a decrease in the ability to self-regulate dietary intake. Examples include genetic predisposition, the first taste experiences and the family environment, a key determinant in this process. Several eating behaviours contribute most to childhood obesity. Among them, are the external eating (eating by external stimuli, such as the mere presence of the food or its smell), food restriction (which may potentiate the uninhibited increased intake of the restricted foods) and emotional eating (intake due to emotional variations, especially negative feelings). These eating behaviours have been linked to childhood obesity.

Feeding behaviour and its determinants among healthy toddlers in an urban city of India

“…Feeding behaviour of a child is related to the smell and taste perception, a part of the hedonic mechanism. [6] Taste perception develops as early as the fetal period with an exposure to the amniotic fluid (taste similar to garlic, cumin and curry). Later on exposure to mother's milk also sets a platform for taste perception to certain other categories like garlic, alcohol and vanilla.…”

“…Later on exposure to mother's milk also sets a platform for taste perception to certain other categories like garlic, alcohol and vanilla. [6] Bottle-fed infants lose the ability to self-regulate appetite and thus fail to decide the timing and amount of intake. [6] They are not independent and could interact with each other.…”

“…Tool was developed based on available review of literature after modifying validated tools available for data collection. [6,7,9,10] Expert opinion was taken from two paediatricians . CC-BY-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.…”

“…This is also due to the increase in availability of energy dense foods and sedentary life styles during childhood. [4,5] Feeding problem in infancy is an important aspect since this may be associated with undernutrition or even childhood obesity [6]. Feeding problem has got no standard classification or definition system.…”

“…16.20067595 doi: medRxiv preprint for feeding problems (STEP) and STEP-CHILD though available are not exclusively for toddlers. [6,7,9,10] A balanced and adequate diet that is determined by feeding behaviour, facilitates physical and mental development of a child. Eating behaviours evolve during the first years of life and evidence indicates that habits acquired in childhood persist through to adulthood.…”