Children with lower ratings of executive functions have a greater response to the portion size effect

Kathleen L Keller; Alaina L Pearce; Bari Fuchs; Kyle Hallisky; Barbara J Rolls; Stephen J Wilson; Charles Geier; Emma J Rose

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2023.106569

Children with lower ratings of executive functions have a greater response to the portion size effect

Appetite. 2023 Jul 1:186:106569. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106569. Epub 2023 Apr 13.

Authors

Kathleen L Keller¹, Alaina L Pearce², Bari Fuchs³, Kyle Hallisky³, Barbara J Rolls³, Stephen J Wilson⁴, Charles Geier⁵, Emma J Rose⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutritional Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Social Science Research Institute, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. Electronic address: klk37@psu.edu.
² Department of Nutritional Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Social Science Research Institute, University Park, PA, USA.
³ Department of Nutritional Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
⁵ Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.

PMID: 37059397
PMCID: PMC10213140 (available on 2024-07-01)
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106569

Abstract

Deficits in executive functions (EFs), a set of cognitive processes related to self-regulation, are associated with the development of obesity. Prior studies from our group showed that lower food-cue related activation in brain regions implicated in self-regulation was related to a larger portion size effect. We tested the hypothesis that lower EFs in children would be positively related to the portion size effect. Healthy weight children aged 7-8 y (n = 88), who varied by maternal obesity status, participated in a prospective study. At baseline, the parent primarily in charge of feeding completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF2) to assess child EFs, including Behavioral (BRI), Emotional (ERI), and Cognitive (CRI) indices. At 4 baseline sessions, children consumed meals in which the portion sizes of foods (pasta, chicken nuggets, broccoli, and grapes) varied by visit (total meal weight of 769, 1011, 1256, or 1492g). Intake increased with increasing portions in a linear trajectory (p < 0.001). EFs moderated the portion size effect such that lower BRI (p = 0.003) and ERI (p = 0.006) were associated with steeper increases in intake as portions increased. As amount of food increased, children in the lowest functioning tertiles for BRI and ERI increased intake by 35% and 36%, respectively, compared to children in the higher tertiles. Increases in intake among children with lower EFs were for higher- but not lower-energy-dense foods. Thus, in healthy weight children who varied by obesity risk, lower parentally reported EFs were associated with a larger portion size effect, and these results were independent of child and parent weight status. Therefore, EFs may be target behaviors that could be strengthened to help children moderate excess intake in response to large portions of energy-dense foods.

Keywords: Children; Cognitive functions; Executive functions; Laboratory intake; Portion size.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Child
Energy Intake*
Executive Function
Female
Humans
Meals
Obesity
Portion Size* / psychology
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding