Interaction between perceived maternal care, anxiety symptoms, and the neurobehavioral response to palatable foods in adolescents.

Studies in rodents have shown that early life trauma leads to anxiety, increased stress responses to threatening situations, and modifies food intake in a new environment. However, these associations are still to be tested in humans. This study aimed to verify complex interactions among anxiety diagnosis, maternal care, and baseline cortisol on food intake in a new environment in humans. A community sample of 32 adolescents and young adults was evaluated for: psychiatric diagnosis using standardized interviews, maternal care using the Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI), caloric consumption in a new environment (meal choice at a snack bar), and salivary cortisol. They also performed a brain fMRI task including the visualization of palatable foods vs. neutral items. The study found a three-way interaction between anxiety diagnosis, maternal care, and baseline cortisol levels on the total calories consumed (snacks) in a new environment. This interaction means that for those with high maternal care, there were no significant associations between cortisol levels and food intake in a new environment. However, for those with low maternal care and who have an anxiety disorder (affected), cortisol was associated with higher food intake; whereas for those with low maternal care and who did not have an anxiety disorder (resilient), cortisol was negatively associated with lower food intake. In addition, higher anxiety symptoms were associated with decreased activation in the superior and middle frontal gyrus when visualizing palatable vs. neutral items in those reporting high maternal care. These results in humans mimic experimental research findings and demonstrate that a combination of anxiety diagnosis and maternal care moderate the relationship between the HPA axis functioning, anxiety, and feeding behavior in adolescents and young adults.

Is the duration of breastfeeding associated with eating behavior in early childhood?

INTRODUCTION: Eating behavior can be defined as the relationship between human and food and involves a multifaceted network of genetic and environmental influences. The eating behavior acquired in childhood, when dysfunctional, can affect children's health and seems to influence adult eating behavior. This study aimed to analyze the breastfeeding influence on eating behavior in early childhood. METHODS: In this longitudinal observational study, data about sociodemographic and breastfeeding practices were collected through questionnaire developed by the researchers and eating behavior was assessed with the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire when the children have 3-5 years of age. This instrument was divided into 'food approach' and 'food avoidant' scales, with 'food approach' being linked to overweight/obesity and 'food avoidant' to selectivity. RESULTS: Data on 107 mother-child pairs were analyzed, of whom 98.1% (n= 105) were breastfed and 46.7% (n= 50) received infant formula. There was a significant association between lower scores in the 'food approach' scale, eating behavior, and total breastfeeding duration > 6 months (p= 0.033), as well, as with exclusive breastfeeding duration > 3 months (p= 0.001). This relationship was confirmed in a linear regression model, after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and infant nutritional status. It was observed that a one-day increase in total breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a -0.044 decrease in total score on the 'food approach' scale ([95% CI: -0.08; -0.01]; p= 0.027 and [95% CI: -0.08; -0.01]; p= 0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: The total and exclusive breastfeeding duration are related to child feeding behavior, while a longer period of breastfeeding can be an influencing factor against 'food approach' scale.

Perceived maternal care is associated with emotional eating in young adults.

INTRODUCTION: Early life adversity, including the perception of poor quality of maternal care, is associated with long-term metabolic and psychosocial consequences. The negative quality of mother/child relationship is associated with emotional overeating in young children, which is defined by eating in response to emotional arousal states such as fear, anger or anxiety. However, it is not known if this association persists through adolescence. Therefore, we aimed at verifying if maternal care during infancy can influence emotional eating in young adults. METHODS: Seventy-five adolescents, residents of Porto Alegre, who participated in the PROTAIA Program (anxiety disorder in childhood and adolescence program), answered the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI - assessment of perceived maternal care), and the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). Regression analysis models were built to predict Emotional Eating, a domain of the DEBQ, using maternal care, gender, and anxiety as independent variables. RESULTS: The model was statistically significant when adjusted for potential confounders (r2 = 0.272; p < 0.0001). Emotional eating was significantly predicted by levels of maternal care, anxiety and gender (beta = -0.316; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated a negative association between the quality of maternal care and emotional eating in young adults, suggesting that the early environment could be involved on the development of eating disorders or on the differential eating behavior in adolescents with emotional disorders.

Breastfeeding duration and eating behavior in early childhood: a systematic review / Duração da amamentação e comportamentos alimentares na primeira infância: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the influence of breastfeeding duration on eating behavior in children aged two to six years. Methods: this review was conducted by PRISMA guidelines. SciELO, Lilacs, Embase, and PubMed databases were researched by using a specific syntax, for studies published from 2000 to 2020. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklist was used to assess the risk of study bias. Results: a total of 26,211 articles were identified, of which seven were included in the study. The results showed a significant association in four studies. All authors used their own questionnaires to assess breastfeeding exposure; there was no standard classification of exclusive and total breastfeeding duration. The breastfeeding duration was associated with reduced food neophobia, lower scores on the food responsiveness subscale, and lower 'picky eating' behavior. Validated instruments were predominantly used to assess the outcome of eating behavior; however, this assessment was not similar between studies. Conclusion: a significant association was observed between breastfeeding duration and eating behavior in children aged two to six years. Further research should be conducted to describe the mechanisms involved in this association.

Resumo Objetivos: analisar a influência da duração do aleitamento materno no comportamento alimentar em crianças de dois a seis anos. Métodos: esta revisão foi conduzida de acordo com as diretrizes PRISMA. As bases de dados SciELO, Lilacs, Embase e PubMed foram pesquisadas usando uma sintaxe específica, para estudos publicados de 2000 a 2020. O Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklist foi utilizado para avaliar o risco de viés do estudo. Resultados: foram identificados 26.211 artigos, dos quais sete foram incluídos no estudo. Os resultados mostraram associação significativa em quatro estudos. Todos os autores usaram seus próprios questionários para avaliar a exposição à amamentação; não havia uma classificação padrão de duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo e total. A duração do aleitamento materno foi associada à redução da neofobia alimentar, menores escores na subescala de responsividade alimentar e menor comportamento alimentar exigente. Instrumentos validados foram usados predominantemente para avaliar o resultado do comportamento alimentar, no entanto, essa avaliação não foi semelhante entre os estudos. Conclusão: observou-se associação significativa entre a duração da amamentação e o comportamento alimentar em crianças de dois a seis anos. Mais pesquisas devem ser realizadas para descrever os mecanismos envolvidos nesta associação.