Eating Behavior Latent Profiles and Their Associations With Body Composition in Early Childhood: The CORALS Cohort
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify sex-specific eating behavior profiles and assess the associations between eating behaviors subscales and profiles and body composition indices in Spanish preschoolers from the CORALS cohort. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 1208 children aged 3-6 years (50.1% girls) from the CORALS cohort. Eating behaviors were assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Sex-specific latent profile analyses were conducted separately for girls and boys. Associations of CEBQ subscales and profiles with BMI, fat mass index, fat-free mass index, and waist to height ratio (z scores) were examined using multiple linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic variables, energy intake, playing outdoors, and sleep duration. RESULTS: Four eating behavior profiles were identified in both sexes: controlled, avid, typical, and avoidant. Food approach subscales and avid eater profile were positively associated with body composition indices, whereas food avoidance subscales and avoidant and controlled profiles showed inverse associations. Controlled eater profile showed opposite associations with fat-free mass by sex: positive associations in boys (β = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.62) but negative in girls (β = -0.55 95% CI: -0.77, -0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Eating behavior profiles were associated with body composition indices similarly in boys and girls, with the exception of the controlled eater profile in relation to fat-free mass index, for which the association differed by sex. Combining subscale-level and profile-level approaches may improve understanding of early eating behavior patterns and their role in body composition development. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06317883 (observational cohort).
Source: Obesity
DOI: 10.1002/oby.70279
Authors: Andrea Jimeno‐Martínez, María L. Miguel‐Berges, Ivie Maneschy, Mercedes Gil‐Campos, Rosaura Leis, Nancy Babio, Pilar De Miguel‐Etayo, Santiago Navas‐Carretero, Olga Portolés, Montserrat Fitó Colomer, Cristina Castro‐Collado, Rosaura Picáns‐Leis, Natalia Farré, Miguel Seral‐Cortés, J. Alfredo Martínez, José Jurado‐Castro, Rocío Vázquez‐Cobela, Cristina Rey‐Reñones, Belén Pastor‐Villaescusa, Francisco Llorente‐Cantarero, Karla‐Alejandra Pérez‐Vega, Jordi Salas‐Salvadó, Luis A. Moreno, Guiomar Masip, CORALS group
Institutions: Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, University of Córdoba, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Catalunya Sud, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Navarre Institute of Health Research, Universidad de Navarra, Universitat de València, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases, Red de Salud Materno Infantil y del Desarrollo, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies, Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol, Hospital Del Mar
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,980
Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, European Commission, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Instituto Danone, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, European Social Fund
OpenAlex ID: W7202035100