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. 2014 Aug 20;9(8):e105303.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105303. eCollection 2014.

Restrained and external-emotional eating patterns in young overweight children-results of the Ulm Birth Cohort Study

Oliver Hirsch  1 , Viktoria J Kluckner  2 , Stephanie Brandt  3 , Anja Moss  3 , Melanie Weck  4 , Ines Florath  4 , Martin Wabitsch  3 , Johannes Hebebrand  5 , Benno G Schimmelmann  2 , Hanna Christiansen  1
Affiliations

Restrained and external-emotional eating patterns in young overweight children-results of the Ulm Birth Cohort Study

Oliver Hirsch et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Childhood obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges in Western countries. Abnormal eating behavior is thought to be a developmental trajectory to obesity. The Eating Pattern Inventory for Children (EPI-C) has not been used for children as young as eight years, and possible associations with body weight have not yet been established. Five hundred and twenty-one children of the Ulm Birth Cohort Study (UBCS; age eight) filled out the EPI-C and BMI was assessed. Adequacy of the scales was tested with confirmatory factor analysis and a MANOVA and cluster analysis established associations between eating patterns and BMI. The factor structure of the EPI-C was confirmed (GFI = .968) and abnormal eating behavior was associated with overweight (χ(2)(8) =79.29, p<.001). The EPI-C is a valid assessment tool in this young age group. Overweight children consciously restrain their eating.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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