Longitudinal Measurement of Caloric Compensation and Eating in the Absence of Hunger in French Preschool Children

Overview

Objectives: The aims were to measure one year change in caloric compensation (CC) and eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) in 3 to 6 year-old French children in their regular eating context and to link these change with individual characteristics (adiposity, age, gender) and maternal feeding practices. Three series of measurements of caloric compensation (CC) and eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) were conducted: at baseline, and 3 (FU3M) and 15 (FU15M) months later. Each serie of measurement was composed of three consecutive weeks an identical lunch was served in four preschool canteens reaching 236 children. The first lunch was a control session. For the CC situation (week 2), thirty minutes before the lunch children were offered a preload (137 kcal). For the EAH situation (week 3), ten minutes after lunch children were exposed to palatable foods (430 kcal). Food intake was measured at the individual level. Maternal eating behaviour and feeding practices were measured by questionnaires. Child's height and weight were measured by a medical doctor.

Full Title of Study: “One Year Change in Caloric Compensation and Eating in the Absence of Hunger in French Preschool Children”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Observational
  • Study Design
    • Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional
  • Study Primary Completion Date: March 2011

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Change in caloric compensation in 15 months
    • Time Frame: one week
    • To evaluate the change in caloric compensation across time, caloric compensation was measured at baseline, 3 and 15 months after baseline, in the same conditions. At each time point to assess caloric compensation, children were offered a chocolate bun 30 minutes before the lunch. The food intake at lunch was recorded. We calculated if children compensated the chocolate bun, by comparing energy intake at this lunch with energy intake from a control lunch which took place one week before.
  • Control measurement of energy intake at baseline
    • Time Frame: One week
    • We conducted a control lunch and recorded food intake of each child. This measurement was conducted a week before measuring caloric compensation.
  • Change in eating in the absence of hunger in 15 months
    • Time Frame: one week.
    • In order to evaluate the change in eating in the absence of hunger across time, a measurement was conducted at baseline, 3 months and 15 months after baseline. To collect the measurement of eating in the absence of hunger, we offered palatable foods to children 10 minutes after their lunch. We recorded the energy intake from these post-meal foods. At each time point, this measurement was conducted one week after the measurement of caloric compensation.
  • Control measurement of energy intake three months after baseline
    • Time Frame: One week
    • We conducted a control lunch and recorded food intake of each child. This measurement was conducted a week before measuring caloric compensation.
  • Control measurement of energy intake fifteen months after baseline
    • Time Frame: One week
    • We conducted a control lunch and recorded food intake of each child. This measurement was conducted a week before measuring caloric compensation.

Secondary Measures

  • Maternal feeding practices and eating behavior
    • Time Frame: one month after inclusion
    • Using a validated questionnaire, we collected information about maternal feeding practices (Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, Musher-Eizenman & Holub, 2007) and eating behaviour (Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, Van Strien, 1986).

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • To be registered to the school canteen, to provide parental approval at inclusion and at the FU15M Exclusion Criteria:

  • Chronic disease or food allergies

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 2 Years

Maximum Age: 7 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation
  • Collaborator
    • European Union
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Nicklaus Sophie, phD, Principal Investigator, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation

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