Eating Behavior Latent Profiles and Their Associations With Body Composition in Early Childhood: The CORALS Cohort
Authors' conclusion
Eating behavior profiles were associated with body composition indices similarly in boys and girls, with the exception of the controlled eater profile in relation to fat-free mass index, for which the association differed by sex.
Study context
- Population
- Spanish preschoolers aged 3–6 years (50.1% girls), CORALS cohort
- Participants
- 1,208 participants
- Exposure
- Eating behavior subscales and latent profiles (controlled, avid, typical, avoidant) vs body composition indices
- Outcome
- Associations of Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) subscales and profiles with BMI, fat mass index, fat-free mass index and waist to height ratio (z scores)
- Follow-up
- Baseline
Methodological detailscross-sectional analysis of baseline data, sex-specific latent profile analyses, multiple linear regression adjusted for sociodemographic variables, energy intake, playing outdoors and sleep duration
- Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data
- Sex-specific latent profile analyses
- Multiple linear regression adjusted for sociodemographic variables, energy intake, playing outdoors and sleep duration
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Associations of eating behavior subscales and profiles with body composition indices
- Four eating behavior profiles identified in both sexes: controlled, avid, typical and avoidant
- Food approach subscales and avid eater profile positively associated with body composition indices
- Food avoidance subscales and avoidant and controlled profiles showed inverse associations
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Controlled eater profile and fat-free mass, by sex
| β (95% CI) | |
|---|---|
| Controlled (boys)Positive association in boys | 0.42 (0.21–0.62) |
| Controlled (girls)Negative association in girls | −0.55 (−0.77 to −0.32) |
Original publication
Eating Behavior Latent Profiles and Their Associations With Body Composition in Early Childhood: The CORALS Cohort. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 9 August 2026. doi:10.
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