Novel model of childhood appetitive traits in children with obesity
Authors' conclusion
CEBQ is useful to assess appetitive traits in children with obesity. The novel factor structure in youth with obesity suggests that temporal or phenotypic differences necessitate a revision of the established factor model. The new factor structure may be used to develop a hyperphagia questionnaire.
Study context
- Population
- Children with obesity from three geographically diverse centers
- Participants
- 814 children
- Exposure
- Children with obesity vs population-based controls; by obesity severity, age and sex
- Children with obesityn = 814
- Outcome
- CEBQ appetitive trait factor structure
Methodological detailsobservational, multicentre (three geographically diverse centers), exploratory factor analysis with training and test sets
- Observational
- Multicentre (three geographically diverse centers)
- Exploratory factor analysis with training and test sets
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
CEBQ factor structure (exploratory factor analysis (EFA))
Novel six-factor model with a new "Food avidity" factor; variance explained by Food avidity
15.8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| CEBQ subscales vs population-based controls | P < 0.001 |
| CEBQ traits by age (>6 years vs younger)Over 6 years vs Younger · lower over 6 years | P < 0.001 |
| CEBQ traits by age (>6 years vs younger)Over 6 years vs Younger · lower over 6 years | P = 0.03 |
- Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) subscales vs population-based controls: higher food response, enjoyment of food, emotional overeating and desire to drink with obesity
CEBQ subscales vs population-based controls
- Higher scores correlated with obesity severity
CEBQ traits by age (>6 years vs younger)
- Food fussiness and food avidity the same by age; no sex differences
Original publication
Novel model of childhood appetitive traits in children with obesity. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 27 March 2025. doi:10.
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