Poor dietary patterns at 1-5 years of age are related to food neophobia and breastfeeding duration but not age of introduction to solids in a relatively advantaged sample

Lucinda K Bell; Elena Jansen; Kimberley Mallan; Anthea M Magarey; Lynne Daniels

doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2018.06.005

Poor dietary patterns at 1-5 years of age are related to food neophobia and breastfeeding duration but not age of introduction to solids in a relatively advantaged sample

Eat Behav. 2018 Dec:31:28-34. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2018.06.005. Epub 2018 Jun 22.

Authors

Lucinda K Bell¹, Elena Jansen², Kimberley Mallan³, Anthea M Magarey⁴, Lynne Daniels⁵

Affiliations

¹ Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Sturt Rd, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia. Electronic address: lucy.bell@flinders.edu.au.
² Centre for Children's Health Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.
³ Centre for Children's Health Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia; School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, 1100 Nudgee Road, Banyo, Queensland 4014, Australia.
⁴ Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Sturt Rd, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.
⁵ Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Sturt Rd, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia; Centre for Children's Health Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.

PMID: 30086453
DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2018.06.005

Abstract

Previous studies have investigated associations between individual foods or food group intake, and breastfeeding duration, age of solid introduction and food neophobia. This study aimed to investigate associations between whole dietary patterns in young children, and breastfeeding duration, age of solid introduction and food neophobia. Parents of children (N = 234) aged 1-5 years completed an online questionnaire. Dietary risk scores were calculated using the Toddler (1-3 years) or Preschool (>3-<5 years) Dietary Questionnaires which evaluates the previous week's food-group intake (scored 0-100; higher score = higher risk of poor dietary quality). Neophobia was measured using the Child Food Neophobia scale (1.0-4.0; higher score = more neophobic). Associations were investigated using multivariable linear regression, adjusting for covariates. Children (54% female, 3.0 ± 1.4 years) were from advantaged families and were breastfed until 11.8 (5.0-16.0) months, started solids at 5.6 ± 1.4 months of age, moderately neophobic (2.1 ± 0.7) and at moderate dietary risk (29.2 ± 9.2). Shorter breastfeeding duration (β = -0.21; p = 0.001) and poorer child food neophobia scores (β = 0.36; p < 0.001) were associated with higher dietary risk scores. Age of introduction to solids showed no association with dietary risk (p = 0.744). These findings suggest that in addition to breastfeeding promotion, supporting parents to manage neophobic behaviour may be important in promoting healthy eating patterns in early childhood.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Child; Dietary patterns; Infant feeding practices; Neophobia; Solid introduction.

MeSH terms

Breast Feeding / statistics & numerical data*
Child, Preschool
Diet / psychology*
Diet / standards
Diet Surveys
Feeding Behavior*
Female
Food Preferences / psychology*
Humans
Infant
Male
Phobic Disorders / epidemiology*
Risk Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Time Factors
Weaning