Fathers' use of social media for social comparison is associated with their food parenting practices.

Over 85% of parents use social media; however, limited research has investigated the associations between parental social media use and food parenting practices. The objectives of this study were to: 1) describe how mothers and fathers use social media focused on topics related to child feeding and family meals; and 2) examine associations between parental social media use focused on child feeding and family meals and mothers' and fathers' food parenting practices. Data were obtained from 179 mothers and 116 fathers of children aged 3-8 years enrolled in a family-based obesity prevention intervention. We used descriptive statistics to describe parents' social media use in relation to child feeding and family meals and linear regressions with generalized estimating equations to explore associations between parents' social media use and food parenting practices. Models were stratified by parent gender and adjusted for household income, parent ethnicity, parent age, child sex, and intervention status. A higher percent of mothers than fathers reported using social media to seek information related to child feeding and family meals (64.8% mothers; 25.0% fathers) and to share and compare family meals and food choices (41.9% mothers; 19.8% fathers). While social media use was not associated with food parenting practices in mothers, fathers' social media use to share and compare family meals and food choices was associated with negative food parenting practices, i.e., greater use of food for emotional regulation (ß = 0.37, p = 0.02) and greater use of food for reward (ß = 0.34, p = 0.02). Study results can inform strategies to promote healthy social media use among parents of young children.

Impact of a Web-Based Nutrition Intervention on Eating Behaviors and Body Size Preoccupations among Adolescents.

We aimed to evaluate the impact of a web-based school nutrition intervention on eating behavior traits, body weight concern, body size perception and body size dissatisfaction in adolescents. Ten classes of secondary students in Canada (13.6 ± 0.8 years) were randomized into an intervention (n = 162 students) or control group (n = 75 students). Adolescents in the intervention, conducted between 2011 and 2013, participated in an online nutrition challenge to increase their consumption of vegetables, fruits and dairy products using a web-based platform over six weeks. Measurements were taken at baseline (PRE) and post-intervention (POST). No significant negative changes were observed between the intervention and control groups for eating behavior traits, body weight concern, body size perception and dissatisfaction. However, results suggest a trend for a positive effect of the intervention on susceptibility to hunger in boys (group × time interaction, p = 0.10). Specifically, boys experienced a reduction in their susceptibility to hunger in response to the intervention (PRE: 6.1 ± 3.8, POST: 4.8 ± 3.7, p = 0.009). An intervention aimed at improving the eating habits of adolescents did not negatively influence body size preoccupations. In response to the intervention, boys tended to show a lower susceptibility to hunger, which might help them to prevent overeating and adopt healthy eating habits.

Associations of timing of food intake with energy intake, eating behaviour traits and psychosocial factors in adults with overweight and obesity.

Introduction: Whether a late distribution of food intake impacts obesity through increased energy intake remains uncertain and the behavioural characterization of late eating needs to be further investigated. The first objective of this study was to assess the associations between late eating and body mass index (BMI) and total energy intake (TEI), and whether TEI mediates the association between late eating and BMI. The second objective was to assess the associations between late eating and eating behaviour traits or psychosocial factors and whether eating behaviour traits mediate the association between late eating and TEI. Methods: Baseline data from 301 individuals (56% women, age = 38.7 ± 8.5 years; BMI = 33.2 ± 3.4 kg/m2), who participated in four weight loss studies were used in this cross-sectional study. Total energy intake was assessed using a three-day food record from which the percentage of TEI after 17:00 and after 20:00 was calculated. Eating behaviour traits and psychosocial factors were assessed with questionnaires. Pearson correlations and mediation analyses adjusted for age, sex, underreporting of energy intake, sleep duration and bedtime were performed. Results: Percent TEI after 17:00 and after 20:00 were associated with TEI (r = 0.13, p = 0.03 for both), and TEI mediated the association between percent TEI after 17:00 and BMI (ß = 0.01 ± 0.01, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.02). Percent TEI after 17:00 was associated with disinhibition (r = 0.13, p = 0.03) and percent TEI after 20:00 was associated with susceptibility to hunger (r = 0.13, p = 0.03), stress (r = 0.24, p = 0.002) and anxiety (r = 0.28, p = 0.0004). In women, disinhibition mediated the association between percent TEI after 17:00 and TEI (ß = 3.41 ± 1.43, 95% CI: 0.92, 6.47). Susceptibility to hunger mediated the association between percent TEI after 20:00 and TEI (ß = 0.96 ± 0.59, 95% CI: 0.02, 2.34) in men and women. Conclusion: Late eating is associated with TEI and suboptimal eating behaviours which could contribute to explaining the association between timing of food intake and obesity.

Associations between mind-body practice engagement and diet quality: Exploring the mediating roles of eating behaviour traits and regulation styles for eating behaviours in the PREDISE study.

While engaging in Mind-Body Practices (MBPs) may be related to better diet quality, its association with eating behaviours is unclear. This cross-sectional study explores whether eating behaviour traits and regulation style of eating behaviours mediate the association between MBP engagement and diet quality. A total of 418 women and 482 men, aged between 18 and 65 years and recruited as part of the PREDISE study cohort, reported whether they currently practice one or more MBP (e.g., yoga or meditation). Canadian Healthy Eating Index (C-HEI) was calculated from three 24h dietary recalls. Intuitive Eating Scale (IES-2), and Regulation of Eating Behaviour Scale were completed online. Mann-Whitney tests were conducted to compare C-HEI scores of individuals who currently engage in MBPs (practitioners) to those who do not (non-practitioners). Multiple regression analyses and bootstrapping were performed to test whether eating behaviours and regulation style of eating behaviours mediate the association between MBPs and diet quality. Overall, 88 women and 43 men were practitioners. They had higher C-HEI scores than non-practitioners (62.9 ± 13.0 vs. 55.6 ± 14.3; p = 0.001). Parallel mediation model showed significant indirect effects of the IES-2 subscale relating to Body-Food Choice Congruence (ß = 1.57, SE = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.86, 2.43), self-determined motivation (ß = 1.51, SE = 0.39, 95% CI:0.81, 2.32) and non-self-determined motivation (ß = 0.39, SE = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.85) on the association between practitioner status and C-HEI. These findings suggest that the current practice of MBPs is associated with better diet quality, mainly through practitioners' higher intuitive eating skills and more self-determined regulation of eating behaviours. Further studies should investigate the potential impacts of MBPs on the development and maintenance of positive eating habits.

Eating behaviour traits mediate the association between satiety responsiveness and energy intake among individuals with overweight and obesity.

Whether eating behaviour traits represent factors that could explain the susceptibility to overeating in individuals with low satiety responsiveness remain to be extensively examined. This study aimed to assess if eating behaviours mediate the association between satiety responsiveness and energy intake. Baseline data from individuals with overweight or obesity (n = 303; age = 38.7 ± 8.4 years; BMI = 33.2 ± 3.4 kg/m2, 56% women) who participated in four weight-loss studies were included in this cross-sectional study. Satiety responsiveness was determined by the satiety quotient (SQ) based on fullness sensations in response to a standardized breakfast. Energy intake was self-reported in a three-day food record and measured by an ad libitum buffet meal. Eating behaviours were assessed with questionnaires. Mediation analyses adjusted for age and sex, and for underreporting for the food record, were performed using a regression-based and bootstrapping approach. The association between SQ and self-reported total energy intake was mediated by susceptibility to hunger (ß = -2.51 ± 1.26, 95% CI, -5.38 to -0.52) and its subscales, internal and external locus of hunger (ß = -2.00 ± 1.10, 95% CI, -4.50 to -0.28 and ß = -2.42 ± 1.29, 95% CI, -5.30 to -0.30, respectively). Susceptibility to hunger (ß = -2.71 ± 1.13, 95% CI, -5.29 to -0.84), internal and external locus of hunger (ß = -1.84 ± 0.95, 95% CI -4.00 to -0.30 and ß = -3.42 ± 1.31, 95% CI, -6.39 to -1.24, respectively), cues that may trigger food cravings (ß = -5.43 ± 2.91, 95% CI, -11.83 to -0.44) and state-craving as a physiological state (ß = -4.31 ± 2.51, 95%CI, -10.14 to -0.44) also mediated the association between SQ and measured energy intake. These results suggest that susceptibility to hunger and food cravings partly explained the susceptibility to overeating among individuals with low satiety responsiveness. Interventions targeting susceptibility to hunger and food cravings may thus be helpful to prevent overeating among these individuals.

Effects of sodium intake and cardiorespiratory fitness on body composition and genetic susceptibility to obesity: results from the Quebec Family Study.

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Na intake and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on body composition. The study was also intended to assess whether Na intake and/or CRF mediate the genetic susceptibility to obesity. Analyses were performed on a sample of 526 adult participants from the Quebec Family Study for whom a complete data set was available for nutrient and energy intake, CRF and body composition variables. The effects of Na, CRF and their interaction were analysed by comparing sex-specific tertiles using general linear mixed models. In both males and females, we observed a significant effect of Na intake and CRF on all body composition variables. However, in females only, we found that the effect of Na intake on body composition variables varies according to CRF level such that high Na intake was associated with increased body fatness, but only in females with low CRF. This interaction effect remained significant after statistical adjustment for total sugar, fat and energy intake. Using mediation analysis, we also found Na intake and CRF to be significant mediators of the relationship between a polygenic risk score of obesity based on > 500 000 genetic variants and BMI or waist circumference. In conclusion, the current study shows that Na intake influences body composition via mechanisms that interact with aerobic fitness, especially in females. Furthermore, both Na intake and CRF seem to be involved in the expression of the genetic susceptibility to obesity.

The impact of a family web-based nutrition intervention to increase fruit, vegetable, and dairy intakes: a single-blinded randomized family clustered intervention.

BACKGROUND: The importance of adopting healthy eating habits at a young age to prevent obesity and chronic diseases justifies the need for effective interventions. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact of a family web-based nutrition intervention on vegetable and fruit (V/F) and dairy product (DP) consumption, nutrient intakes, diet quality and BMI or BMI z-scores. METHODS: Forty-three families with children aged 8-16 years were randomized to either the family web-based intervention, or web-based general nutrition guidelines (control) over 8 weeks. Nutritional variables were assessed with three-day dietary records while anthropometry (body weight and height) was assessed with standardized measures at baseline (PRE), immediately after the intervention (POST 1) and 3-6 months after the intervention (POST 2). Linear mixed models for repeated measures were used to assess the main effects and their interactions followed by post hoc tests. RESULTS: The intervention had an effect on DP, total sugar, potassium, magnesium, and calcium in children (Group x Time, P = 0.02 to 0.03) and on DP, V/F juice, carbohydrates, total sugar, saturated fat, protein and calcium in parents (Group x Time, P = 0.01 to 0.03). Post hoc tests revealed children in the intervention group increased their DP intakes immediately after the intervention (POST1) but decreased at follow-up (POST2). No effect of the intervention on V/F, diet quality or BMI was observed. CONCLUSION: Compared to general nutrition guidelines, this family web-based nutrition intervention had a modest effect on nutrient intakes, but beneficial effect on DP intakes in the short term. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03798808 , Registered 10 january 2019 - Retrospectively registered.

Understanding Gene-Lifestyle Interaction in Obesity: The Role of Mediation versus Moderation.

BACKGROUND: Obesity results from complex interactions between genetic susceptibility to weight gain and poor eating and lifestyle behaviors. The approach that has been traditionally used in genetics to investigate gene-environment/lifestyle interaction in obesity is based on the concept of moderation or effect modification. Another approach called mediation analysis can be used to investigate gene-environment interaction in obesity. The objective of this review article is to explain the differences between the concepts of moderation and mediation and summarize the studies that have used mediation analysis to support the role of eating or lifestyle behaviors as putative mediators of genetic susceptibility to obesity. SUMMARY: Moderation is used to determine whether the effect of an exposure (genes associated with obesity) on an outcome (obesity phenotype) differs in magnitude and/or direction across the spectrum of environmental exposure. Mediation analysis is used to assess the extent to which the effect of the exposure on the outcome is explained by a given set of hypothesized mediators with the aim of understanding how the exposure could lead to the outcome. In comparison with moderation, relatively few studies used mediation analyses to investigate gene-environment interaction in obesity. Most studies found evidence that traits related to appetite or eating behaviors partly mediated genetic susceptibility to obesity in either children or adults. KEY MESSAGES: Moderation and mediation represent two complementary approaches to investigate gene-environment interaction in obesity and address different research questions pertaining to the cause-effect relationship between genetic susceptibility to obesity and various obesity outcomes. More studies relying on mediation are needed to better understand the role of eating and lifestyle habits in mediating genetic susceptibility to obesity.

Translation and validation of the Child Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (CTFEQr17) in French-speaking Canadian children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To translate and validate the Child Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (CTFEQr17), assessing cognitive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE) and emotional eating (EE), among French-speaking Canadian young individuals. DESIGN: Phase 1 comprised a translation and the evaluation of the comprehension of the questionnaire. Phase 2 comprised a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the evaluation of internal consistency (Cronbach's α), test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC)) and construct validity, including correlations among the CTFEQr17 and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), anthropometrics, dietary intake and diet quality. SETTING: Primary and secondary schools, Québec City, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Phases 1 and 2 included 20 (40 % boys, mean age 11·5 (sd 2·4) years) and 145 (48 % boys, mean age 11·0 (sd 1·9) years) participants, respectively. RESULTS: Phase 1 resulted in the questionnaire to be used in Phase 2. In Phase 2, the CFA revealed that the seventeen item, three-factor model (CTFEQr17) provided an excellent fit. Internal consistency was good (Cronbach's α: 0·81-0·90). Test-retest reliability was moderate to good (ICC = 0·59, (95 % CI 0·48, 0·70), ICC = 0·78, (95 % CI 0·70, 0·84), ICC = 0·50, (95 % CI 0·38, 0·62) for CR, UE and EE, respectively). CR correlated with EAT-26 score (r = 0·43, P < 0·0001). UE and EE correlated negatively with BMI Z-scores (r = -0;·26, P = 0·003; r = -0;·19, P = 0·03, respectively). CR correlated with the proportion of energy intake from protein and diet quality (r = 0·18, P = 0·04; r = 0·20, P = 0·02, respectively). CONCLUSION: The CTFEQr17 is suitable to use among French-speaking Canadian young individuals.

Dietary Mediators of the Genetic Susceptibility to Obesity-Results from the Quebec Family Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies showed that eating behaviors such as disinhibition, emotional and external eating, and snacking mediate genetic susceptibility to obesity. It remains unknown if diet quality and intake of specific food groups also mediate the genetic susceptibility to obesity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess if diet quality and intakes of specific food groups mediate the association between a polygenic risk score (PRS) for BMI and BMI and waist circumference (WC). We hypothesized that poor diet quality, high intakes of energy-dense food groups, and low intakes of nutrient-dense food groups mediate the genetic susceptibility to obesity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 750 participants (56.3% women, aged 41.5 ± 14.9 y, BMI 27.8 ± 7.5 kg/m2) from the Quebec Family Study. A PRSBMI based on >500,000 genetic variants was calculated using LDpred2. Dietary intakes were assessed with a 3-d food record from which a diet quality score (i.e. Nutrient Rich Food Index 6.3) and food groups were derived. Mediation analyses were conducted using a regression-based and bootstrapping approach. RESULTS: The PRSBMI explained 25.7% and 19.8% of the variance in BMI and WC, respectively. The association between PRSBMI and BMI was partly mediated by poor diet quality (ß = 0.33 ± 0.12; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.60), high intakes of fat and high-fat foods (ß = 0.46 ± 0.16; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.79) and sugar-sweetened beverages (ß = 0.25 ± 0.14; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.60), and low intakes of vegetables (ß = 0.15 ± 0.08; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.32), fruits (ß = 0.37 ± 0.12; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.64), and dairy products (ß = 0.17 ± 0.09; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.37). The same trends were observed for WC. CONCLUSIONS: The genetic susceptibility to obesity was partly mediated by poor diet quality and intakes of specific food groups. These results suggest that improvement in diet quality may reduce obesity risk among individuals with high genetic susceptibility and emphasize the need to intervene on diet quality among these individuals.

Validation of the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire adapted for the French-speaking Canadian population.

PURPOSE: The Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (AEBQ) is a newly developed questionnaire adapted from the widely used Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. This questionnaire assesses four food approach scales, namely hunger, food responsiveness, emotional overeating (EOE) and enjoyment of food, and four food avoidance scales, namely satiety responsiveness (SR), emotional undereating (EUE), food fussiness and slowness in eating (SE). This study aimed to validate a French version of the AEBQ in controlled conditions among French-speaking adults from Quebec, Canada. METHODS: The AEBQ was pre-tested through structured interviews with 30 individuals. Participants of the validation study (n = 197, aged 19-65 years) had their height and weight measured and completed the AEBQ, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) and Intuitive Eating Scale-2 to assess factorial structure, internal consistency and construct validity. Test-retest reliability over 2 weeks was assessed among 144 participants. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an excellent model fit (NNFI = 0.98, CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.03, χ2/df = 1.17) and provided support for the use of the original 8-factor questionnaire. Internal consistency was adequate for most scales (Cronbach's alpha = 0.66-0.94) and moderate to excellent test-retest reliability was observed for all scales (ICC = 0.70-90). Women showed higher levels of EOE and SR, and individuals with overweight and obesity showed higher levels of EOE and lower levels of EUE and SE. Construct validity was also supported by expected correlations with disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger from the TFEQ and intuitive eating. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the French AEBQ is a valid and reliable tool to measure eating behaviours in the adult population of Quebec. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies. The data are cross-sectional, but all measurement were undertaken in controlled laboratory conditions and the study provided new information.

Is the timing of food intake a potential indicator of low weight loss responders? A secondary analysis of three weight loss studies.

Individual variability in weight loss in response to a weight loss intervention is commonly observed. Recently, the timing of food intake has been identified as one possible factor implicated in obesity and weight loss. The objective of this study was to further characterize low weight loss responders by assessing the pre-diet distribution of daily energy and macronutrient intakes. A pooled cohort of men and women (n = 122; aged 39.1 ± 8.2 years; body mass index [BMI] 33.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2 ) who participated in a 12 to 15 week energy-restricted intervention (-500 to -700 kcal/d) were included in this study. Participants were categorized into two weight loss groups (ie, low [-1.3 ± 2.3 kg] and high [-6.1 ± 2.1 kg] weight loss). Food intake and distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes were assessed using a 3-day food record at baseline. The daily distribution of energy intake (% of total energy intake) was similar in the two weight loss groups with the exception of the low weight loss group who consumed a slightly lower proportion of their total energy intake before 9:00 am compared with the high weight loss group (12.5% ± 5.8% vs 15.0% ± 6.6%, respectively, P = .03). In the low weight loss group, the percentage of energy intake consumed after 8:00 pm was positively associated with total energy intake (r = 0.27, P = .04). The results of this study suggest that the timing of food intake measured prior to a weight loss intervention does not permit the characterization of low weight loss responders.

Influence of Cooking Workshops on Cooking Skills and Knowledge among Children Attending Summer Day Camps.

This study aimed to measure the influence of the Chefs in Action program (3 cooking workshops) on cooking skills, nutrition knowledge, and attitudes towards healthy eating in children attending summer day camps and compare it with a single cooking workshop. Groups of children (8-12 years) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 25) or to 1 of 3 comparison groups performing a single workshop (group 1, n = 16; group 2, n = 36; group 3, n = 24). Two dietitians evaluated cooking skills during the workshops. Nutrition knowledge and attitudes towards healthy eating were assessed before and after the intervention. No improvement in cooking skills was observed in the intervention group (P = 0.25). The intervention group's cooking skills score was significantly higher than comparison group 1 (P < 0.001). Nutrition knowledge was significantly improved in the intervention group and the comparison group 3 (P < 0.0001) but no effect on attitudes towards healthy eating was observed (Pgroup × time = 0.36). In conclusion, the Chefs in Action program positively impacted nutrition knowledge in children. The results also suggest that the type of recipe may influence nutrition knowledge and cooking skills. Further studies are needed to better assess the degree of difficulty required in cooking workshop recipes to improve cooking skills in children.

Associations among eating behaviour traits, diet quality and food labelling: a mediation model.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations among eating behaviour traits, food label use and diet quality and to evaluate if the association between eating behaviour traits and diet quality is mediated by food label use. DESIGN: Eating behaviour traits were assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), the Restraint Scale and the Intuitive Eating Scale, whereas food label use was measured with the Label Reading Survey. Diet quality (Canadian Healthy Eating Index) was assessed with an FFQ. SETTING: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (n 385; mean (sd): BMI = 26·0 (4·9) kg/m2, age = 41·1 (15·0) years) involved in two previous experimental studies. RESULTS: When controlling for potential covariates, general food label use (ß = 1·18 (se 0·26), P < 0·0001) was the main determinant of diet quality, explaining 6·7 % of its variance. General food label use partly mediated the association between TFEQ-cognitive restraint and diet quality; the indirect effect (ßindirect (se); 95 % CI) was stronger in men (0·32 (0·10); 0·15, 0·55) than women (0·16 (0·05); 0·08, 0·27). General food label use also partly mediated the negative association between unconditional permission to eat and diet quality; the indirect effect (ßindirect (se); 95 % CI) was also stronger in men (-1·88 (0·55); -3·11, -0·96) than women (-1·03 (0·33); -1·81, -0·49). CONCLUSIONS: General food label use was the main determinant of diet quality and partly mediated the association between eating behaviour traits and diet quality. The stronger mediating effect observed in men suggests they rely more on food labelling when attempting to restrained themselves, which translates into better diet quality.

Determinants of coaches' intentions to provide different recommendations on sports nutrition to their athletes.

BACKGROUND: Coaches are considered as an important source of nutrition information by their athletes. However, their knowledge in this area is often insufficient for proper guidance and may lead to the dissemination of misinformation regarding sports nutrition. The aim of this study was to assess coaches' intentions as well as psychosocial determinants underlying their intentions to provide sports nutrition recommendations to their high school athletes. METHODS: Coaches (n = 47) completed a Web-based questionnaire based on the theory of planned behaviour, to assess their intentions to provide three different sports nutrition recommendations and their determinants. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify the variables that were most strongly related to the intentions. RESULTS: Forty-six, 44.7 and 91.9% of coaches had the intention to recommend a higher consumption of foods rich in carbohydrates, foods rich in proteins and an increase in hydration to their athletes, respectively. Subjective norm was the only significant determinant of coaches' intention to recommend a higher consumption of foods rich in carbohydrates (R2 = 53.7%, ß = 0.73 ± 0.12, P < 0.0001). Subjective norm and perceived behavioural control were significantly associated with coaches' intentions to recommend a higher consumption of foods rich in proteins (R2 = 25.9%, ß = 0.50 ± 0.16, P = 0.002 and R2 = 17.2%, ß = 0.39 ± 0.17, P = 0.01, respectively) and an increase in hydration (R2 = 26.8%, ß = 0.38 ± 0.13, P = 0.001 and R2 = 46.3%, ß = 0.58 ± 0.11, P < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that subjective norm and perceived behavioural control represent important determinants of coaches' intentions to provide recommendations on sports nutrition. These findings should be considered in future interventions aimed at facilitating proper general sports nutrition recommendations provided by coaches to their athletes.

Effect of Energy Restriction on Eating Behavior Traits and Psychobehavioral Factors in the Low Satiety Phenotype.

Studies have shown that individuals with low satiety efficiency may be more susceptible to weight gain, but little is known about the effect of weight loss intervention outcomes in these individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an energy-restricted weight loss intervention on eating behavior traits and psychobehavioral factors in individuals differing in their satiety responsiveness. A pooled cohort of individuals who were overweight or obese (n = 100; aged 39 ± 9 years) participating in a 12- to 15-week weight loss program targeting an energy deficit of 500⁻700 kcal/day were included in this study. Satiety responsiveness was determined by a median split of the mean satiety quotient based on appetite sensations measured in response to a test meal at baseline (low satiety responsiveness (LSR) vs. high satiety responsiveness (HSR)). Anthropometric variables, eating behavior traits, psychobehavioral factors, and ad libitum energy intake were assessed before and after the intervention. Although similar weight loss was observed between the LSR and HSR groups (-3.5 ± 3.2 vs. ⁻3.8 ± 2.8 kg, p = 0.64) in response to an energy-restricted weight loss intervention, changes in eating behavior traits were different between groups. Individuals with LSR had a higher increase in cognitive restraint (+5.5 ± 4.1 vs. +3.5 ± 3.5, p = 0.02) and some of its subscales and a lower decrease in situational susceptibility to disinhibition (-0.6 ± 1.1 vs. -1.2 ± 1.3, p = 0.02) in response to the intervention compared to the HSR group. In conclusion, energy-restricted weight loss intervention seems to trigger undesirable changes in some eating behavior traits in individuals more vulnerable to overeating, which could increase their susceptibility to weight regain.

The role of eating behavior traits in mediating genetic susceptibility to obesity.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified several genes associated with obesity. The mechanisms through which these genes affect body weight are not fully characterized. Recent studies suggest that eating behavior (EB) traits could be involved, but only a few EB traits were investigated. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether genetic susceptibility to obesity is mediated by EB traits (cognitive restraint, disinhibition, hunger) and their subscales. We hypothesized that EB traits, and their subscales, partly mediate this association. Design: Adult individuals (n = 768) who participated in the Quebec Family Study were included in this cross-sectional study. A genetic risk score (GRS) of obesity was calculated based on the 97 genetic variants recently identified in a GWAS meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI). EB traits and their subscales were assessed with the use of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Regression analyses with age and sex as covariates were used to investigate the associations between GRS, EB traits, BMI, and WC and whether the association between GRS and obesity is mediated by EB traits, which represents the indirect effect of GRS on obesity. Results: The GRS of obesity was positively associated with BMI (ß = 0.19 ± 0.04, P < 0.0001) and WC (ß = 0.46 ± 0.10, P < 0.0001). Regression analyses also revealed that the association between GRS of obesity and BMI was partly mediated by disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger (ßindirect = 0.09 ± 0.03, P = 0.0007, and ßindirect = 0.04 ± 0.02, P = 0.02, respectively). Habitual and situational susceptibility to disinhibition (ßindirect = 0.08 ± 0.03, P = 0.002 and ßindirect = 0.05 ± 0.02, P = 0.003, respectively) as well as internal and external locus of hunger (ßindirect = 0.03 ± 0.02, P = 0.03 for both) were also found to mediate the association between GRS of obesity and BMI. The same trends were observed with WC. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the genetic susceptibility to obesity is partly mediated through undesirable EB traits, which suggests that they could be targeted in obesity treatment and prevention. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03355729.

Evaluation of a Theory-Based Intervention Aimed at Reducing Intention to Use Restrictive Dietary Behaviors Among Adolescent Female Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a theory-based intervention to reduce the intention to use restrictive dietary behaviors for losing weight among adolescent female athletes involved in aesthetic sports. DESIGN: Cluster-randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Aesthetic sport teams of adolescent female athletes aged 12-17 years. PARTICIPANTS: Two teams (n = 37 athletes) in the intervention group and 3 teams (n = 33) in the comparison group. INTERVENTIONS: The 2 groups received nutrition education during 3 weekly 60-minute sessions. The intervention group was further exposed to a theory-based intervention targeting the specific determinant of intention to use restrictive dietary behaviors for losing weight, namely attitude. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Difference over time between groups in intention to use restrictive dietary behaviors for losing weight and in nutrition knowledge. ANALYSIS: Mixed models for repeated measures. RESULTS: The theory-based intervention contributed to maintaining a low intention of using restrictive dietary behaviors for losing weight over time in the intervention group compared with the comparison group (P < .03). Nutrition knowledge score increased equally in both groups. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Complementing nutrition education with theory-based behavior change intervention may help maintain a low intention of using restrictive dietary behaviors for losing weight among female high school athletes involved in aesthetic sports.

Evaluation of a Theory-Based Intervention Aimed at Improving Coaches' Recommendations on Sports Nutrition to Their Athletes.

BACKGROUND: Coaches are a major source of nutrition information and influence for young athletes. Yet, most coaches do not have training in nutrition to properly guide their athletes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention aimed at improving the accuracy of coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition. DESIGN: This was a quasi-experimental study with a comparison group and an intervention group. Measurements were made at baseline, post-intervention, and after a 2-month follow-up period. Coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition during the follow-up period were recorded in a diary. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: High school coaches from various sports (n=41) were randomly assigned to a comparison group or an intervention group. INTERVENTION: Both groups attended two 90-minute sessions of a theory-based intervention targeting determinants of coaches' intention to provide recommendations on sports nutrition. The intervention group further received an algorithm that summarizes sports nutrition guidelines to help promote decision making on sports nutrition recommendations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nutrition knowledge and accuracy of coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED: χ(2) analyses and t-tests were used to compare baseline characteristics; mixed and general linear model analyses were used to assess the change in response to the intervention and differences in behaviors, respectively. RESULTS: Coaches in the intervention vs comparison group provided more nutrition recommendations during the 2-month post-intervention period (mean number of recommendations per coach 25.7±22.0 vs 9.4±6.5, respectively; P=0.004) and recommendations had a greater accuracy (mean number of accurate recommendations per coach 22.4±19.9 [87.1%] vs 4.3±3.2 [46.1%], respectively; P<0.001). Knowledge was significantly increased post-intervention in both groups, but was maintained only in the intervention group during the 2-month follow-up (Pgroup*time=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: A theory-based intervention combined with a decision-making algorithm maintained coaches' sports nutrition knowledge level over time and helped them to provide more accurate recommendations on sports nutrition.