Tendency to overeat predicts an elevated body mass index trajectory across school-age years.

ABSTRACT: Overeating is a complex appetite trait, cross-sectionally linked to an elevated weight in children. However, little is known about longitudinal associations. Therefore, we studied how a tendency towards overeating predicts weight development between 8 and 16 years of age. In this study among 4517 children from the Finnish Health in Teens cohort, parents reported their child's tendency to overeat when children were on average 11.2 (SD 0.8) years old. Children were then categorised as overeating, possibly overeating, or not overeating. Height and weight measurements from two data collection periods were combined with growth data from a national health register, and age- and sex-standardised body mass index z-scores (BMIz) were calculated using the International Obesity Task Force reference.

SUBMITTER: Sarkkola C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11846909 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature