Associations between parent and child latent eating profiles and the role of parental feeding practices.

Previous research employing the person-centred approach of Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) with parent-reported data of their child's eating behaviour identified four distinct eating profiles in 3-6-year-old children: typical, avid, happy, and avoidant eating (Pickard et al., 2023). In this follow-up study, the same parents were asked to self-report their own eating behaviour (N = 785) and LPA was conducted to determine the latent eating profiles of the parents/caregivers. The LPA showed that a four-profile solution best represented the sample of parents, termed: typical eating (n = 325, 41.4%), avid eating (n = 293, 37.3%), emotional eating (n = 123, 15.7%) and avoidant eating (n = 44, 5.6%). Multiple mediation analysis was then conducted to examine both the direct associations between parents' eating profiles and the child's probability of eating profile membership, as well as the indirect associations through the mediatory role of specific parental feeding practices. The results suggested direct links between parent and child eating profiles, with the 'avid eating' and 'avoidant eating' profiles in parents predicting similar profiles in their children. Feeding practices, such as using food for emotional regulation, providing balanced and varied food, and promoting a healthy home food environment, mediated associations between parent and child eating profiles. This research provides novel evidence to reinforce the need for interventions to be specifically tailored to both the parent's and child's eating profiles. The work also provides an interesting avenue for future longitudinal examination of whether the parents' provision of a healthy home food environment could protect against intergenerational transmission of less favourable eating behaviours.

Mechanisms underlying the development of eating disorders and disordered eating in adolescent females with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) face an increased risk of eating disorders/disordered eating (ED/DE), with adolescents being particularly vulnerable. Empirical knowledge on the mechanisms underlying development of ED/DE in T1D is crucial for evolving prevention strategies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fourteen semi-structured interviews with adolescent females with T1D and ED/DE between 14 and 18 years were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Analyses identified four main themes; 'Interconnected afflictions', 'Judgment', 'Feeling Different', and 'Chaos & Control', These themes explore the interconnectedness of T1D and ED/DE, with shame and guilt emerging as common underlying mechanism. The development of a biopsychosocial model was based on the integration of these data with existing models. CONCLUSIONS: The study extends previous developmental pathways of ED/DE in adolescents with T1D. We propose a biopsychosocial model that incorporates various factors: predisposing factors such as parental management of T1D and weight gain during adolescence; precipitating factors including comments on weight, frequency of weighing, perceptions of surveillance; the perpetuating bilateral influence of ED/DE and T1D and finally highlighting the protective mechanisms of disease acceptance encompassing parental handling of diagnosis and the contribution of healthcare professionals (HCP's) role in psychoeducation. The present study highlight the vulnerability of adolescence in the presence of T1D, particularly concerning issues related to eating, weight, and body. It offers clinically relevant insights, with the aim to improve communication and management strategies for this very specific group.

Dietary intake and quality among adults with cystic fibrosis: A systematic review.

AIMS: This systematic review aims to describe the dietary quality, dietary intake and related behaviours of adults diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in four databases (Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, CENTRAL); studies were included if they addressed dietary intake, diet quality or eating behaviours among adults (≥15 years) living with cystic fibrosis and were published from January 2000 to November 2022. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the risk of bias and quality of included studies. Findings were synthesised narratively. RESULTS: Nineteen observational studies (n = 2236) were included and considered high to moderate quality. Most (13/19) studies reported that individuals with cystic fibrosis were consuming high-energy diets; where studies reported energy intake as a proportion of requirements met, energy intake was high, even when using individualised or cystic fibrosis-specific referents. In addition, fat intakes as a proportion of energy appeared high (29%-39% of total energy), particularly as current guidelines recommend macronutrient profile similar to the general population (<30% of total energy). There was considerable variation in the reporting of fatty acid profiles and other nutrients. Five studies reported on concerns regarding diet and eating in this population. CONCLUSION: Findings from the current review suggest dietary intakes of adults with cystic fibrosis appear to be less than optimal and concerns about diet, weight and food may be emerging in this population. Future research utilising consistent measures of dietary assessment and reporting, reporting of medical therapies, and exploring potential concerns about diet and eating is warranted.

Early feeding practices and eating behaviour in preschool children: The CORALS cohort.

This study aimed to investigate if the duration of breastfeeding and the method at initiation of complementary feeding affect eating behaviour in children aged 3-6 years. This is a cross-sectional analysis from the Childhood Obesity Risk Assessment Longitudinal Study project, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study that aims to identify childhood obesity risk factors in Spanish children. A total of 1215 children aged 3-6 years were included. Breastfeeding duration and the method of initiation of complementary feeding [baby-led weaning (BLW), traditional/spoon or mixed method] were evaluated. Eating behaviour at 3-6 years was assessed with the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Generalized linear models were fitted to assess the association between the aforementioned exposures and eating behaviour. Children breastfed for ≥4 months were less likely to be fussy eaters at 3-6 years compared to those breastfed for <1 month (OR: 0.86 95% CI: 0.76-0.98; p = 0.031). Compared to those children using the traditional/spoon-feeding method, those initiating complementary feeding through BLW or through a mixed approach were more likely to have higher scores on the enjoyment of food (EF) (OR, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.13-1.57; p = 0.001 and 1.17, 1.05-1.30; p = 0.002, respectively) and lower scores on food fussiness (FF) at 3-6 years (0.76, 0.62-0.91; p = 0.004 and 0.87, 0.78-0.98; p = 0.033, respectively). Breastfeeding for ≥4 months and initiation of complementary feeding with the BLW and a mixed approach were associated with greater EF and lower FF, which should endure practice.

Eating behaviours, social media usage, and its association: A cross-sectional study in Indian medical undergraduates.

Background: Despite increasing incidence, there is little data on abnormal eating behaviours or disorders in Indian youth, especially medical students. Additionally, little literature exists measuring the association of social media use with abnormal eating behaviours. Aim: To assess the prevalence of abnormal eating behaviours amongst medical students, social media usage, and any association of social media usage with eating behaviours. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted with 272 participants at a medical college, and two scales: the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-Revised 21items (TFEQ-R21) and the Scale of Effects of social media on Eating Behaviour (SESMEB) were used. Results: 22% of the participants reported abnormal eating behaviours. A significant difference in the effect of social media on eating behaviour according to the year of study [f = 3.08, P = 0.02] was seen with the final years having the lowest and the first years having the highest SESMEB scores. Students using more than 4 social media platforms had a higher SESMEB score [t = -2.02, P < 0.04]. A positive correlation was seen between TFEQ domains such as uncontrolled eating [r = 0.38, P = 0.01], emotional eating [r = 0.30, P = 0.01], and TFEQ total score [r = 0.40, P = 0.01] with SESMEB scores. Conclusion: This study finds a significant correlation between increased social media usage and developing abnormal eating behaviours in medical students. It highlights the need for the creation of policies regulating social media use with eating behaviours in mind.

Effect of Acute Nutritional Ketosis on Circulating Levels of Growth Differentiation Factor 15: Findings from a Cross-Over Randomised Controlled Trial.

Exogenous supplementation with ketone beverages has been shown to reduce plasma glucose levels during acute nutritional ketosis. It remains to be investigated whether growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15)-an anorexigenic hormone-is involved in this process. The aim was to investigate the effect of a ketone ester beverage delivering ß-hydroxybutyrate (KEßHB) on plasma levels of GDF-15, as well as assess the influence of eating behaviour on it. The study was a randomised controlled trial (registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03889210). Individuals were given a KEßHB beverage or placebo in a cross-over fashion. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 min after ingestion. Eating behaviour was assessed using the three-factor eating questionnaire. GDF-15 levels were not significantly different (p = 0.503) after the KEßHB beverage compared with the placebo. This finding remained consistent across the cognitive restraint, emotional eating, and uncontrolled eating domains. Changes in the anorexigenic hormone GDF-15, irrespective of eating behaviour, do not appear to play a major role in the glucose-lowering effect of exogenous ketones.

Investigating motivations to eat: Refining and validating a framework of Eating Behaviour Traits in dieters and the general population.

Due to relationships between diet and health including obesity, there is a need to examine the explanatory power of factors that motivate people to (over or under) eat. In a previous investigation, a four-factor subscale-based model of eating behaviour traits (EBTs) was developed which identified individual differences in psychological factors influencing motivations to eat and some residual uncertainties. The current study used a data-driven and theory-driven approach, including individual items to refine and extend previous EBT models. The aim was to examine and validate the domain structure of a framework for EBTs. The analysis used two samples including a representative sample of the UK population (n = 2010, 51% female, 49% male, 18-88 years), and members of a weight management program (n = 2317, 96.6% female, 2.8% male, 21-84 years), who completed 5 questionnaires including 10 EBTs. The results found some support for a 6-factor model, encompassing reactive eating, negative emotional eating, positive emotional eating, restricted eating, homeostatic eating, and body-food choice congruence (data-driven model) or eating for health (theory-driven model). There were differences between the data-driven model and the theory-driven model regarding the 6th factor. Additionally, the data-driven model did not distinguish between eating for pleasure and reactive eating. The models demonstrated that the eating behaviour factors were significantly associated with BMI category. Overall, this research contributes to a more structured understanding of the dimensions of motivation underlying EBTs, emphasising the utility of this framework for identifying at-risk individuals and tailoring interventions to meet specific individual needs.

Social norms and young adults' self-reported meat and plant-based meal intake: Findings from two online cross-sectional studies.

Plant-based eating is beneficial for human and planetary health. It is important to identify factors which may encourage people to reduce meat, and increase plant-based meal intake. Perceived social norms are associated with meat and plant-based meal intake in adults, however, less is known about the relationship between perceived social norms and young adults' own self-reported meat and plant-based eating in general, and in different social contexts. Across two online studies we examined this. In Study 1 (n = 217 young adults, aged 18-25 years, mean age = 19.50 years, SD = 1.37 years, mean BMI = 24.21, SD = 5.45, 91% cisfemale, 92.0% omnivores), perceived descriptive (the perceived behaviour of others) and injunctive (the perceived approval of others) norms were measured in general. In study 2 (n = 151 young adults aged 18-25 years, mean age = 19.62 years, SD = 1.50 years, mean BMI = 24.32, SD = 4.99, 88.8% cisfemale, 71.1% omnivore), perceived descriptive and injunctive norms were examined in a variety of social contexts. In Study 1, perceived descriptive norms about friends were associated with self-reported meat, and descriptive norms about peers and friends, and injunctive norms about friends were positively associated with self-reported plant-based meal intake. In Study 2, descriptive norms about friends were associated with self-reported meat intake in fast-food restaurants and at friends' houses, and injunctive norms about friends were associated with meat intake in restaurants. There were no other significant associations between either type of social norm and meat or plant-based meal intake. We provide the first evidence that peers and friends may be relevant for plant-based meal intake, and only friends may be relevant for meat intake. Further research is needed to examine people's actual food intake, and in longitudinal studies to rule out reverse causality.

Obesity-induced tissue alterations resist weight loss: A mechanistic review.

Interventions aimed at weight control often have limited effectiveness in combating obesity. This review explores how obesity-induced dysfunction in white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), skeletal muscle, and the brain blunt weight loss, leading to retention of stored fat. In obesity, increased adrenergic stimulation and inflammation downregulate ß-adrenoreceptors and impair catecholaminergic signalling in adipocytes. This disrupts adrenergic-mediated lipolysis, diminishing lipid oxidation in both white and brown adipocytes, lowering thermogenesis and blunting fat loss. Emerging evidence suggests that WAT fibrosis is associated with worse weight loss outcomes; indeed, limiting collagen and laminin-α4 deposition mitigates WAT accumulation, enhances browning, and protects against high-fat-diet-induced obesity. Obesity compromises mitochondrial oxidative capacity and lipid oxidation in skeletal muscle, impairing its ability to switch between glucose and lipid metabolism in response to varying nutrient levels and exercise. This dysfunctional phenotype in muscle is exacerbated in the presence of obesity-associated sarcopenia. Additionally, obesity suppresses sarcolipin-induced sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) activation, resulting in reduced oxidative capacity, diminished energy expenditure, and increased adiposity. In the hypothalamus, obesity and overnutrition impair insulin and leptin signalling. This blunts central satiety signals, favouring a shift in energy balance toward energy conservation and body fat retention. Moreover, both obese animals and humans demonstrate impaired dopaminergic signalling and diminished responses to nutrient intake in the striatum, which tend to persist after weight loss. This may result in enduring inclinations toward overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. Collectively, the tissue adaptations described pose significant challenges to effectively achieving and sustaining weight loss in obesity.

Co-designing an intervention using the COM-B model to change an eating behaviour in people living with achalasia.

Background: Achalasia is a rare motility disorder affecting the oesophagus, leading to difficulties with eating and drinking. Participants in previous studies reported that they needed more social, clinical and behavioural support in the long-term management of achalasia. This study, therefore aimed to 1) identify the most challenging eating behaviour for people living with achalasia and 2) co-design a behaviour change intervention to help address the challenges they experience. Methods: This study used a qualitative approach involving online focus groups. The COM-B model was the theoretical framework, with behaviour change techniques (BCTs) as the active ingredients that target a mixture of capability, opportunity and/or motivation. Three focus groups were undertaken to obtain a range of input from different people living with achalasia. Participants in this study identified the target behaviour, prioritised the different BCTs which most resonated with them to design an intervention and decided on the mode of delivery. The research team analysed the techniques that helped participants with their eating behaviour using the COM-B model as a framework to create the intervention. Results: The 24 participants in this study identified "eating in a social setting" as the target behaviour for the intervention. A workbook that can be personalised by the individual was the most suitable intervention. The workbook structure aligns with the constructs of the COM-B model. It includes reflection, activities and goal-setting sections based on what was indicated to be useful for the majority of the participants. Key techniques to overcome the challenges with eating in a social setting included social support, regulation to reduce negative emotions, goals and planning. Conclusion: Using a focus group approach with the COM-B model as the theoretical framework, the participants in this study developed an intervention to support people living with achalasia. In order to achieve long-term behaviour change, engagement with a personalised workbook could facilitate eating in a social setting. Future work will need to pilot the workbook to ensure it can support people to improve their quality of life and complement the ongoing care they receive from health services.

Eating Behaviours and Dietary Intake in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This systematic review aimed to examine existing evidence related to associations between eating behaviours and dietary intake in children and adolescents, with a focus on the Children Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) and the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) as assessment tools. RECENT FINDING: We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. We included observational and interventional studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, that evaluated the association between eating behaviours and food and beverage intake. Thirteen studies from nine countries met the inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 62 to 4,914 individuals aged 2 to 16 years-old. Ten studies used the CEBQ, and three used the DEBQ. Our retrieved studies showed that children and adolescents engaging in food approach behaviours tend to consume foods rich in sugar and fats. However, we observed a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, children and adolescents with lower engagement to food avoidant behaviours, generally exhibited a lower overall food consumption, except for snacks, which they consumed at a higher rate. This systematic review suggests that eating behaviours play an important role in shaping dietary intake. Nevertheless, due to the heterogeneity related to eating behaviours and diet intake, it highlights the need for further research to understand these complex relationships to develop effective interventions for promoting healthy eating habits in children and adolescents.

Investigating oral somatosensory perception and oral symptoms of head and neck cancer patients: insights on eating behaviour.

PURPOSE: Sensory alterations and oral manifestations are prevalent among head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. While taste and smell alterations have been thoroughly investigated, studies on their oral somatosensory perception remain limited. Building upon our previous publication that primarily focused on objective somatosensory measurements, the present work examined self-reported sensory perception, including somatosensation and oral symptoms, in HNC patients and evaluated their link with eating behaviour. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-reported questionnaires on sensory perception, oral symptoms, sensory-related food preference, and eating behaviour among HNC patients (n = 30). Hierarchical clustering analysis was performed to categorise patients based on their sensory perception. Correlations between oral symptoms score, sensory perception, sensory-related food preference, and eating behaviour were explored. RESULTS: Two distinct sensory profiles of patients were identified: no alteration (n = 14) and alteration (n = 16) group. The alteration group showed decreased preference towards several sensory modalities, especially the somatosensory. Concerning eating behaviour, more patients in the alteration group agreed to negatively connotated statements (e.g. having food aversion and eating smaller portions), demonstrating greater eating difficulties. In addition, several oral symptoms related to salivary dysfunction were reported. These oral symptoms were correlated with sensory perception, sensory-related food preference, and eating behaviour. CONCLUSION: This study presented evidence demonstrating that sensory alterations in HNC patients are not limited to taste and smell but cover somatosensory perception and are linked to various aspects of eating. Moreover, patients reported experiencing several oral symptoms. Those with sensory alterations and oral symptoms experienced more eating difficulties.

Factors of food choice and nutritional intake of Brazilian older adults according sociodemographic and health characteristics.

The rapid demographic transition in developing countries has always posed a challenge for the social and economic policies of these nations. The increase in longevity poses new challenges for understanding dietary consumption among different age groups at the old age population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reasons for food choice and the composition of nutritional intake of older adults and its relationship to individual characteristics. Community-living older adults aged 60 and older were interviewed in their homes at the southeastern region of Brazil, between December 2021 and February 2022. The Food Choice Questionnaire and a Food Frequency Questionnaire were administered to obtain data on the reasons for food choice and nutritional intake. A structured interview was employed to gather information on individual characteristics. 168 older adults (mean age of 72.6 ± 8.9; 69.6% women) participated. The reasons for food choice differed significantly, with weight control being one of the least important and health being one of the most important. But older adults aged 80 and over valued the health criterion less than younger participants (60-69 years old). The intake of macronutrients and energy were below nutritional recommendations. Carbohydrate consumption was positively correlated with the mood motive. There was a relationship between the reasons for choosing food and/or the components of nutritional intake with: gender, age, living with a partner, self-report of depression/anxiety, self-perception of health and nutritional status anthropometric. The results are important to be considered in prevention policies and clinical-nutritional management, with special attention to the oldest-old.

Relation of preconception eating behaviours to dietary pattern trajectories and gestational weight gain from preconception to late pregnancy.

Studies examining preconception eating behaviours with longitudinal dietary patterns from preconception to late pregnancy as well as gestational weight gain (GWG) are limited. We derived dietary pattern trajectories from preconception to late-pregnancy, and related preconception eating behaviours to these trajectories and GWG. Preconception eating behaviours were assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire measuring cognitive restraint (CR) - conscious restriction of food intake, emotional eating (EE) - overeating in response to negative emotions, and uncontrolled eating (UE) - overeating with a feeling of lack of control. Dietary intakes were measured at preconception, 20-21 and 34-36 weeks' gestation with food frequency questionnaires. Dietary patterns were determined using factor analysis, and trajectories derived using group-based trajectory modelling. Inadequate and excessive GWG were defined according to Institute of Medicine guidelines based on weights at preconception and the last antenatal visit (median: 38 weeks' gestation). Two dietary patterns were derived: 'Fast Food, Fried Snacks and Desserts (FFD)' and 'Soup, Fish and Vegetables (SFV)'. Adherence trajectories from preconception to late-pregnancy were characterised as consistently high ("stable-high") and low ("stable-low"). Women with higher UE scores had higher odds of being in the "stable-high" trajectory (n = 34) of the FFD pattern [Odds Ratio (OR): 1.25, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.03, 1.51], compared to "stable-low" (n = 260). Percentages of women with inadequate, adequate or excessive GWG were 21.7% (n = 70), 25.8% (n = 83), and 52.5% (n = 169), respectively; women with higher EE scores had a higher likelihood of excessive GWG [Relative Risk Ratio (RRR): 1.35, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.80], but this association was attenuated after adjusting for preconception body mass index. Eating behaviour interventions to improve dietary patterns among pregnant women may need to start as early as preconception, incorporating strategies to manage UE.

Country-level sociocultural context and socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent dietary behaviours: A multilevel analysis in 21 European countries.

Studies to date have predominantly focused on countries' socioeconomic conditions (e.g., income inequality) to explain cross-national differences in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health (behaviours). However, the potential explanatory role of sociocultural contexts at country-level remains underexamined. This study examined whether the country-level sociocultural context and changes thereof were associated with adolescent socioeconomic inequalities in dietary behaviours. International comparative data of 344,352 adolescents living in 21 countries participating in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey were combined with aggregated levels of openness-to-change from the European Social Survey (ESS). Four dietary behaviours (i.e., fruit, vegetable, sweets and soft drink consumption) and two measures of socioeconomic status (SES) on the individual level (i.e., family affluence scale [FAS] and occupational social class [OSC]) were studied. Multilevel logistic regression analyses returned contrasting results for the two SES measures used. In countries with higher levels of openness-to-change, smaller FAS inequalities in daily fruit, sweets and soft drink consumption were observed, but no such inequalities were found for vegetable consumption. Conversely, in these countries, larger OSC inequalities in soft drink consumption were found. Country-specific changes in openness-to-change over time were not associated with the magnitude of adolescent dietary inequalities. Findings underscore the importance of including country-level sociocultural contexts to improve the understanding of cross-national differences in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescents' diets. Future studies, spanning a longer timeframe, are required to examine whether such associations exist within countries over time since our timeframe might have been too small to capture these long-term trends.

Sodium and Human Health: What Can Be Done to Improve Sodium Balance beyond Food Processing?

Sodium plays a key role in the regulation of water balance and is also important in food formulation due to its contribution to the taste and use in the preservation of many foods. Excessive intake of any essential nutrient is problematic and this seems to be particularly the case for sodium since a high intake makes it the nutrient most strongly associated with mortality. Sodium intake has been the object of recommendations by public health agencies such as the WHO and this has resulted in efforts by the food industry to reduce the sodium content of packaged foods, although there is still room for improvement. The recent literature also emphasizes the need for other strategies, e.g., regulations and education, to promote adequate sodium intake. In the present paper, we also describe the potential benefits of a global healthy lifestyle that considers healthy eating but also physical activity habits that improve body functionality and may help to attenuate the detrimental effects of high sodium intake on body composition and cardiometabolic health. In conclusion, a reduction in sodium intake, an improvement in body functioning, and educational interventions promoting healthy eating behaviours seem to be essential for the optimal regulation of sodium balance.

Mendelian Randomization Analysis Identifies Inverse Causal Relationship between External Eating and Metabolic Phenotypes.

Disordered eating contributes to weight gain, obesity, and type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the precise mechanisms underlying the development of different eating patterns and connecting them to specific metabolic phenotypes remain unclear. We aimed to identify genetic variants linked to eating behaviour and investigate its causal relationships with metabolic traits using Mendelian randomization (MR). We tested associations between 30 genetic variants and eating patterns in individuals with T2D from the Volga-Ural region and investigated causal relationships between variants associated with eating patterns and various metabolic and anthropometric traits using data from the Volga-Ural population and large international consortia. We detected associations between HTR1D and CDKAL1 and external eating; between HTR2A and emotional eating; between HTR2A, NPY2R, HTR1F, HTR3A, HTR2C, CXCR2, and T2D. Further analyses in a separate group revealed significant associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the loci in CRP, ADCY3, GHRL, CDKAL1, BDNF, CHRM4, CHRM1, HTR3A, and AKT1 genes. MR results demonstrated an inverse causal relationship between external eating and glycated haemoglobin levels in the Volga-Ural sample. External eating influenced anthropometric traits such as body mass index, height, hip circumference, waist circumference, and weight in GWAS cohorts. Our findings suggest that eating patterns impact both anthropometric and metabolic traits.

Examining the evidence between screen time and night eating behaviour with dietary intake related to metabolic syndrome: A narrative review.

Screen time (ST) on digital devices has increased in recent decades due to digital development. Furthermore, constant engagement with digital devices alters sleep patterns, leading to nocturnal eating behaviour among users. These phenomena are therefore of great concern, as digital device addiction and night eating are associated with unhealthy food intake, increasing the metabolic syndrome (MetS) risks. The purpose of this review was to examine the evidence of the influence of ST and night eating behaviour (NEB) on dietary intake and its association with MetS based on previous literature. Prolonged ST and NEB have an association with excessive intake of energy from overconsumption of high-sugar and high-fat foods. However, the relationship between digital content and its influence on food intake is inconsistent. A higher MetS risk was found in individuals with longer ST due to a sedentary lifestyle, while positive energy balance and a shift in circadian rhythm contributed to night eaters. ST and NEB presented with a significant influence on food intake in adults. Additionally, unhealthy food intake due to excessive consumption of empty-calorie foods such as sweet and fatty foods due to addiction to electronic devices and eating at night has a detrimental effect on metabolic function. Therefore, improving food intake by reducing ST and night binges is essential to reduce the risk of MetS.

Food parenting and Children's eating behaviour: Exploring the role of coparenting.

Parents have primary influence over the development of their children's eating behaviours, however less attention has been given to whether or how their coparenting plays a role in this association. The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional associations between mothers' and fathers' food parenting practices and children's eating behaviour and examine whether coparenting quality moderates or confounds these associations. Parents (222 mothers and 167 fathers) with children 18 months to 5 years completed an online survey that assessed their food parenting practices and coparenting quality. One parent per family (91% mothers) also reported their children's food approach behaviours. We used linear regressions with generalized estimating equations to examine the associations between food parenting practices and children's eating behaviours. To explore moderation by coparenting quality, we included an interaction term in each model (coparenting quality x food parenting practice). To explore confounding, models were adjusted for coparenting quality. All models were stratified by parent gender and included parent educational attainment, child age, and child BMI z-scores as covariates. Among both mothers and fathers, we found that structure and autonomy support food parenting practices were inversely associated with children's food responsiveness, and desire to drink, while coercive control practices were positively associated with these food approach behaviours. We found the opposite direction of association between these food parenting practices and children's enjoyment of food. Among mothers, autonomy support was inversely associated with children's emotional overeating, while coercive control was positively associated with this eating behaviour. Coparenting quality did not moderate or confound the associations. Future studies should continue to explore these associations among families with young children and consider feeding coparenting in the association.

Examining parents' experiences and challenges of feeding preschool children with avid eating behaviour.

Avid eating behaviours, including greater responsiveness to food cues and emotional over-eating, have been linked to child overweight and obesity. Parental feeding practices are modifiable components of a child's food environment and may be key levers for behaviour change in tailored interventions to support parents of children with avid eating behaviour. However, there is a lack of research examining parents' experiences in this context. This study aimed to explore parents' experiences of feeding children with avid eating behaviour and to understand any challenges experienced in this context. Semi-structured interviews with parents (N = 15) of a preschool child (3-5 years) identified as having an avid eating behaviour profile explored how children's avid eating manifests, the parental feeding practices used to manage avid eating, and the perceived effectiveness of these strategies. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four core themes were generated. Theme one, 'Have they got worms? Children's insatiable hunger', captures parents' interpretation of the complex ways in which avid eating behaviour manifests. Theme two, 'Parenthood as a duty', illustrates how parents' perceived responsibilities shape their feeding practices. Theme three, 'Lifelong habits', captures parents' use of responsive feeding practices to support children's healthy relationship with food. Theme four, 'Picking battles', captures the structure- and coercive-based feeding strategies commonly used to manage children's avid eating. This novel study provides an in-depth understanding of the complex ways that children's avid eating behaviour manifests, and the strategic and creative parental feeding practices used to manage these behaviours. Such findings are valuable for informing the development of future support resources for parents/caregivers to help their children with avid eating behaviours to develop a healthy relationship with food.