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Trajectories of childhood eating behaviors and their association with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adolescence
This research article explores the longitudinal trajectories of overeating and picky eating behaviors in children aged 2.5 to 6 years and their association with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in mid-adolescence (age 15). A total of 2,014 participants were recruited as part of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. Mothers reported on their children’s eating behaviors at various developmental milestones, while adolescents completed the Mental Health and Social Inadaptation Assessment at age 15. Latent class analyses revealed three distinct trajectory groups for overeating: early-onset (14.1%), late-onset (24.3%), and never-displayed (61.6%). For picky eating, three stable trajectory groups were identified: high level (7.1%), mid-level (37.4%), and low level (55.5%). The study found that higher levels of overeating in childhood were significantly associated with increased impulsivity, hyperactivity, and anxiety in adolescent girls, whereas no such associations were observed in boys. Furthermore, trajectories of picky eating did not correlate with mental health symptoms in adolescence. These findings suggest that overeating behaviors are less stable over time compared to picky eating behaviors and underscore the necessity of addressing psychological well-being and ADHD symptoms in children who exhibit overeating, particularly among girls, rather than exclusively focusing on promoting healthy eating habits. [NPID: picky, overeating, ADHD, childhood, impulsivity, hyperactivity, habits]
Year: 2025
