The Impact of Eating Behaviors on Ultraprocessed Food Consumption Over 12 Months in Children
Authors' conclusion
Child eating behaviors predict changes in UPF intake over 1 year. These results advocate for longitudinal research to examine dynamic relationships between eating behaviors, UPF intake, and body weight.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 9–11 years (53% female); mean age 10.5 years (SD 0.88), mean BMI z-score 0.97 (SD 1.07)
- Participants
- 101 children
- Outcome
- Associations of baseline eating behaviors (CEBQ) with baseline UPF/MPF intake ratio and its 12-month change
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological details12-month follow-up, linear regression controlling for sex and pubertal stage, Eating behaviors parent-reported via Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ); intake from three automated dietary recalls; Ultraprocessed foods (UPF) and MPF kcal classified by NOVA
- 12-month follow-up
- Linear regression controlling for sex and pubertal stage
- Eating behaviors parent-reported via CEBQ; intake from three automated dietary recalls; UPF and MPF kcal classified by NOVA
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
UPF/MPF intake ratio
- CEBQ-food fussiness associated with higher UPF/MPF intake ratio at baseline
- p = 0.02
- CEBQ-food fussiness associated with increase in UPF/MPF intake ratio over 1 year
- p = 0.04
- CEBQ-enjoyment of food associated with decrease in UPF/MPF intake ratio over 1 year
- p = 0.03
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
The Impact of Eating Behaviors on Ultraprocessed Food Consumption Over 12 Months in Children. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 27 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →