EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Portugal, Rua das Taipas, nº 135, 4050-600, Porto, Portugal; Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.
EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Portugal, Rua das Taipas, nº 135, 4050-600, Porto, Portugal; Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.
Appetite. 2019 Jan 1;132:82-90. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.10.002. Epub 2018 Oct 5.
The examination of specific characteristics of eating habits in childhood and its influence on eating behaviours is needed to better understand the establishment of appetite-related eating behaviours. This study aimed to assess the association between eating frequency (EF) (main meals vs. snacks) at 4 and 7y and problematic eating behaviours and appetite-related eating behaviours at 7y. The analysis included 1359 children from the birth cohort Generation XXI who provided 3-day food diaries, at both ages, and complete information on the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, at 7y. Problematic eating behaviours were assessed using parental perception of child's poor eating (including not eating enough, eating too slow or overeating) at both ages. A time-of-day approach was used to distinguish main meals from snacks. A cross-lagged analysis was performed to check the direction of the association between EF and parental concerns regarding problematic eating behaviours. Associations between EF and appetite-related eating behaviours were evaluated through linear regression models. Between 4 and 7y a moderate tracking of EF was described as well as a strong tracking of parental concerns. We found a bidirectional relationship between EF and parental concerns. Prospectively, a higher frequency of snacks at 4y was independently associated with higher scores in 'Desire to Drink' at 7y (β = 0.051, 95%CI:0.009; 0.093). At 7y, a higher EF had a positive association with 'Satiety Responsiveness' but an inverse association with 'Enjoyment of Food'. A higher number of main meals had a positive association with 'Enjoyment of Food' and 'Food Responsiveness'. In conclusion, children who had more eating occasions seem to have more food-avoidance behaviours, traits that might protect these children from gaining excessive weight.
研究目的在于评估 4 岁和 7 岁时的进食频率（EF）（正餐与零食）与 7 岁时的问题性进食行为和与食欲相关的进食行为之间的关联。本研究共纳入了 1359 名来自 XXI 世代出生队列的儿童，他们在这两个年龄阶段都提供了为期 3 天的食物日记，并在 7 岁时提供了完整的儿童饮食行为问卷（Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire）信息。在这两个年龄阶段，通过父母对孩子不良饮食习惯的感知（包括吃得不够多、吃得太慢或暴饮暴食）来评估问题性进食行为。采用时间点法区分正餐和零食。通过交叉滞后分析来检查 EF 与父母对问题性进食行为的担忧之间的关联方向。通过线性回归模型评估 EF 与与食欲相关的进食行为之间的关联。在 4 岁到 7 岁之间，EF 存在中等程度的追踪性，而父母的担忧则存在很强的追踪性。我们发现 EF 和父母的担忧之间存在双向关系。前瞻性地，4 岁时零食的进食频率越高，7 岁时“想喝”的得分越高（β=0.051，95%CI：0.009；0.093）。在 7 岁时，EF 越高与“饱腹感反应”呈正相关，但与“对食物的享受”呈负相关。进食正餐的次数越多，与“对食物的享受”和“食物反应性”呈正相关。综上所述，进食次数较多的儿童似乎具有更多的食物回避行为，这些行为特征可能保护这些儿童不会过度增重。
