Eating behaviour profiles tied to body composition in early childhood

Profiles of eating behaviour are similarly associated with body composition in boys and girls, except for the controlled eater profile in relation to fat-free mass index, which differed by sex, suggests a study.

The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 1,208 children aged 3‒6 years (50.1 percent girls) from the CORALS cohort. They assessed eating behaviours using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaires (CEBQ) and analysed sex-specific latent profiles separately for girls and boys.

Multiple linear regression models were used to explore the associations of CEBQ subscales and profiles with BMI, fat mass index, fat-free mass index, waist-to-height ratio (z scores), with adjustments for sociodemographic variables, energy intake, playing outdoors, and sleep duration.

The eating behaviour profiles identified in boys and girls were controlled, avid, typical, and avoidant. Food approach subscales and avid eater profile showed positive associations with body composition indices. On the other hand, food avoidance subscales and avoidant and controlled profiles exhibited inverse associations.

Notably, the controlled eater profile had opposite associations with fat-free mass index by sex, with positive associations in boys (β, 0.42, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.21‒0.62) and negative in girls (β, ‒0.55, 95 percent CI, ‒0.77 to ‒0.32).

“Combining subscale-level and profile-level approaches may improve understanding of early eating behaviour patterns and their role in body composition development,” the authors said.