Children's Energy Intake Generally Increases in Response to the Energy Density of Meals but Varies with the Amounts and Types of Foods Served.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Food energy density (ED; kcal/g) is positively related to energy intake in numerous studies. A recent secondary analysis proposed that when the ED of consumed food is above a breakpoint, adults sense calories and adjust meal size to minimize overconsumption.

Objectives

We conducted a secondary analysis of measured intakes in preschool children to assess how meal energy intake was related to meal ED as well as to meal portions, eating occasions, and menus.

Methods

We analyzed weighed intakes from 6355 meals served to 94 children aged 3 to 5 y in 2 randomized crossover trials. We provided children with all their daily food and milk for multiple periods of 5 consecutive days in their usual childcare setting. We used linear mixed models with repeated measures t

SUBMITTER: Rolls BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10808835 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature