title: Understanding eating in the absence of hunger among young children: a systematic review of existing studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eating in the Absence of Hunger (EAH), or consuming highly palatable foods when satiated, is one behavioral pathway that may lead to childhood obesity. EAH is an objective, laboratory-based measure. A more comprehensive understanding of potential determinants of EAH could inform childhood obesity programs outside of a laboratory setting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Systematic review of EAH experiments to identify individual, familial, and societal-level correlates of EAH among children 12 years of age or younger.
  
  
  METHODS
  1487 studies were retrieved from five electronic databases (Medline [PubMed], Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO). Eligible studies were those that measured EAH as initially operationalized in a laboratory setting enrolling children ≤12 years or reporting age-specific results for children ≤12 years. Only articles written in English were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  12 cross-sectional, six prospective, and one behavioral-intervention studies were included in the review. EAH was observable among boys and girls; absolute levels of EAH increased with age; and maternal feeding styles were associated with EAH among girls. The most consistent evidence supported increased levels of EAH among overweight and obese versus normal weight children, both cross-sectionally and prospectively. Two studies supported a genetic component to EAH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies enrolling independent samples support a positive association between weight status and EAH among children; studies addressing causality are needed. Other various individual, genetic, and familiar characteristics were associated with EAH, yet studies among more heterogeneous sample populations are needed to confirm findings. Studies addressing societal-level factors related to EAH were absent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Reina K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lansigan
authors.affiliation: Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, One Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Emond
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, One Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. Electronic address: Diane.Gilbert-Diamond@Dartmouth.edu.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gilbert-Diamond
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012527:Satiation / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Children; EAH; Eating; Eating in the absence of hunger; Food; Obesity