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

N/ACompletedNCT01982279

Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement236 enrolled

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.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

236

Conditions

Healthy

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 2 YearsMax age: 7 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in caloric compensation in 15 months

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.

Time frame: one week

Control measurement of energy intake at baseline

We conducted a control lunch and recorded food intake of each child. This measurement was conducted a week before measuring caloric compensation.

Time frame: One week

Change in eating in the absence of hunger in 15 months

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.

Time frame: one week.

Control measurement of energy intake three months after baseline

We conducted a control lunch and recorded food intake of each child. This measurement was conducted a week before measuring caloric compensation.

Time frame: One week

Control measurement of energy intake fifteen months after baseline

We conducted a control lunch and recorded food intake of each child. This measurement was conducted a week before measuring caloric compensation.

Time frame: One week

Secondary Outcomes

Maternal feeding practices and eating behavior

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).

Time frame: one month after inclusion