The Relationship Between Child Eating Behaviour with Body Mass Index among Toddlers Aged Two to Four Years Old

Nor Eyzawiah Hassan; Asmat Mat Arepen; Faizul Helmi Addnan; Nur Fariha Mohd Manzor; Nizam Baharom; Mohd Dzulkhairi Mohd Rani; Norsham Juliana; Nazefah Abdul Hamid

Nor Eyzawiah Hassan ⁽¹⁾ , Asmat Mat Arepen ⁽²⁾ , Faizul Helmi Addnan ⁽³⁾ , Nur Fariha Mohd Manzor ⁽⁴⁾ , Nizam Baharom ⁽⁵⁾ , Mohd Dzulkhairi Mohd Rani ⁽⁶⁾ , Norsham Juliana ⁽⁷⁾ , Nazefah Abdul Hamid ⁽⁸⁾

(1) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia ,

(2) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia ,

(3) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia ,

(4) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia ,

(5) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia ,

(6) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia ,

(7) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia ,

(8) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Tingkat 13, Menara B, Persiaran MPAJ, Jalan Pandan Utama, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Malaysia

Issue
Vol. 11 No. 4 (2020): Volume 11 Issue 4

Keywords:

Children, Eating Habit, Growth Development, Malnutrition, Nutritional Status, Obesity, Preschool, Overeating

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Abstract

Children eating behaviour was hypothesised as one of the factors associated with growth development as well as malnutrition among toddlers. This study aimed to explore the relationship between child eating behaviour among toddlers aged two to four years old and their respective Body Mass Index (BMI) or BMI for Age Z (BAZ). A cross-sectional study was conducted among parents and caregivers with toddlers between two to four years old, in the Klang Valley. The validated Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) was used to measure their child eating habit and behaviours. A total of 96 parents or caregivers of toddlers participated. Girls had lower BAZ than boys (-1.20 vs -0.15, p=0.030), and significantly higher satiety responsiveness and food fussiness scores (3.14 vs 2.80, p=0.005 and 2.83 vs 2.44, p=0.005 respectively). Emotional overeating had opposite effects on BMI and BAZ between genders. In this study, girls aged two to four year old had lower BMI and BAZ than boys; and demonstrated higher food avoidance behaviour. Emotional overeating is associated with opposite effects on BMI and BAZ between boys and girls. Among all toddlers, satiety responsiveness and food fussiness were associated with lower BAZ.