Abstract
Background and Aim: Eating quickly may promote excess energy intake and is associated with unhealthy weight outcomes in children, but little research has investigated eating speed in infants. This study investigated relationships between eating speed and energy intake, weight status and complementary feeding practices in infants aged 7-10 months. Methods: Eating speed was assessed in 625 infants (First Foods New Zealand study) using three methods: (i) two 24-hour dietary recalls; (ii) the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire ‘slowness in eating’ subscale; and (iii) one filmed eating occasion (n=185). The recalls also measured daily energy intake from complementary food. Infant length and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) z-scores calculated (WHO growth standards). Data on baby food pouch use and baby-led weaning (BLW) were collected by questionnaire. Infants were defined as ‘frequent pouch users’ if they consumed food from a pouch 5+ times/week during the past month. ‘Full’ BLW was defined as the infant ‘mostly’ or ‘always’ feeding themselves. Results: At age 7-10 months, slower eating was associated with lower energy intake from complementary food (for each 1 unit increase in ‘slowness in eating’ score, mean difference:-125 kJ/day per day; 95% CI-178,-71). There was no evidence of a relationship between eating speed and BMI z-score or frequent pouch use. However, compared to spoon-fed infants, those who followed ‘full’ BLW were slower eaters when measured by dietary recall (mean difference:-3 kJ/minute; 95% CI-6,-1) and the ‘slowness in eating’ subscale (standardised mean difference, 0.6 SD; 95% CI 0.5, 0.8; indicating a moderate effect). Conclusions: Slower eating is associated with lower daily energy intake from complementary food, but not weight status or frequent pouch use. Infants who feed themselves are slower eaters than those who are spoon-fed.