Eating behaviour is associated with eating frequency and food consumption in 6-8 year-old children: The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study.
The association between eating behaviour and dietary factors has been studied narrowly in children. Therefore, we investigated whether eating frequency and food consumption are influenced by eating behaviour in a population sample of 406 children aged 6-8 years. We assessed features of eating behaviour by the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and dietary factors by a 4-day food record. The results showed that enjoyment of food was directly associated with a number of main meals (p = 0.041) and consumption of vegetables (p = 0.041), cheese (p = 0.005), and meat (p = 0.002). Food responsiveness was directly associated with consumption of fruit and berries (p = 0.013) and meat (p = 0.016). Desire to drink was directly associated with consumption of fat-containing milk (p = 0.002) and inversely associated with consumption of skimmed milk (p = 0.001). Food fussiness was inversely associated with a number of main meals (p = 0.013) and consumption of vegetables (p < 0.001), cheese (p = 0.001), and meat (p = 0.027). Satiety responsiveness was inversely associated with consumption of vegetables (p = 0.031), cheese (p = 0.010), and meat (p < 0.001) and directly associated with consumption of candies and chocolate (p = 0.026). Slowness in eating was inversely associated with consumption of meat (p = 0.018). Where sex differences existed the associations tended to be observed mostly in girls but not in boys. Our study shows that enjoyment of food and food responsiveness are directly associated with consumption of protein-rich foods and vegetables, fruit and berries, whereas food fussiness and satiety responsiveness are inversely associated with consumption of these foods. Assessment of eating behaviour can help in identifying children with various dietary needs.
Institute of Biomedicine, Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: henna.jalkanen@uef.fi.
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Jalkanen
Institute of Biomedicine, Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
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Lindi
Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Internal Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
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Schwab
Institute of Biomedicine, Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
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Kiiskinen
Institute of Biomedicine, Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
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Venäläinen
Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Internal Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
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Karhunen
Institute of Biomedicine, Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, Kuopio, Finland.
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Lakka
Institute of Biomedicine, Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
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Eloranta
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Appetitive traits; Children; Diet; Eating behaviour; Eating frequency; Food consumption