Development of eating behavior: biology and context

Abstract

Eating is necessary for survival, gives great pleasure, and can be perturbed leading to undernutrition, overnutrition, and eating disorders. The development of feeding in humans relies on complex interplay between homeostatic mechanisms; neural reward systems; and child motor, sensory, and socioemotional capability. Furthermore, parenting, social influences, and the food environment influence the development of eating behavior. The rapid expansion of new knowledge in this field, from basic science to clinical and community-based research, is expected to lead to urgently needed research in support of effective, evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for undernutrition, overnutrition, and eating disorders in early childhood. Using a biopsychosocial approach, this review covers current knowledge of the development of eating behavior from the brain to the individual child, taking into account important contextual influences.

Figure 1

Control of appetite Citation/Permissions: Reprinted from Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 19th Edition, Figure 44-2, page no. 182, Copyright 2011, with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 2

Areas of the Human Brain Activated in Response to Palatable Food or Food-Associated Cues Citation/permissions: Reprinted from Neuron, Vol 69, Paul J. Kenny, Reward Mechanisms in Obesity: New Insights and Future Directions, page no. 665, Copyright 2011, with permission from Elsevier.