Background

As interventions studies have shown it is difficult to change food habits once firmly established, identifying how they develop is crucial if public health recommendations or early interventions in at risk individuals are to be developed (Te Velde, 2008; Moreno, 2008). Few studies have investigated early factors influencing the development of food habits (Northstone, 2001; Coultard 2009). Early life is a period of fast and coordinated changes to establish physiological and social functions. Critical periods in child's growth that control later body composition have already been found (Botton, 2008; Monteiro, 2005, Ekelund 2007) and probably correspond to specific needs in energy and nutrients. In parallel cognitive and motor development follows well described steps. The development of the child eating behaviour is characterised by critical periods for food habits.

These are influenced by characteristics of the child including appetite, satiety, food preferences, food neophobia, fussiness, and by the food environment and the social and emotional context of meals. Parental attitudes are also important in determining what children eat.

Subjects

Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) study is an ideal enviroment in which to investigate these critical periods and relate them to later outcomes such as eating behaviours, growth and development.

Data has been collect on 14000 children whose mothers were recruited between 1991 and 1992 early in pregnancy. The completed child follow-up comprises questionnaires at 6 months (n=11490), 15 months (11 077), 24 months (10 432), 3 year (10 145), 4 year (9722), 5 year (9013), 7 years (8515) and 9 years (7965). The early questionnaires covered milk feeding, weaning, age of introduction of each type of food and feeding problems. Parental attitudes to food and feeding their child have been covered in a series of questionnaires to parents about themselves. The study has collected detailed records of foods and drinks taken by the children over 3 days (up to 1000 children at 4, 8 & 18 months, 3.5 and 5 years and over 6000 children at 7, 10 & 13 years). These can be used to determine the amount and types of key foods, such as fruit and vegetables, eaten in relation to early feeding practice. The children have been weighed and measured at all these time points so these feeding practices can be related to growth and obesity development.

Methods

Secondary analysis of data already collected will be undertaken to build on the work of Emmett and Northstone which has investigated the relationship between late introduction of chewy foods and later feeding difficulties up to age 7 years. This will be extended to look at outcomes up to 13 years including body compostion and types of foods eaten (assessed by diet records). Further analysis will look at the age of introduction of various types of solid foods, such as meat, fruits, vegetables, processed foods and the relationship with eating patterns, foods and nutrients up to 13 years. Parental behaviours and attitudes to feeding the child will be investigated to determine benificial and detrimental practices.

Staff

Kate Northstone (5% for 2 years) will be a co-applicant and will provide statistical support to a team in COBM.

This will comprise 1-day per week from a statistical assissant, 3-days per week from a nutritionist (Louise Jones) and 2 days a month from Pauline Emmett as PI. This work will be for 24 months from Jan-01. The second 2 years of the project we will provide an advisory role only fullfilled by Pauline at 1.5 days a month.

The work will be part of an FP7 funded EU project lead by Dr. Sylvie Issanchou, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France.