Susan L. Johnson|Patricia L. Davies|Richard E. Boles|William J. Gavin|Laura Bellows
Young Children's Food Neophobia Characteristics and Sensory Behaviors Are Related to Their Food Intake ,
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus|Colorado State University|University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus|Colorado State University|Colorado State University
food neophobia children associated poor dietary variety nutrient intakes underlying characteristics may predispose child neophobia widely studiedwe investigated associations childrens food neophobia sensory sensitivity dietary intake diverse sample typically developing preschoolerscaregiver reports childrens food neophobia sensory behaviors sbs measured food neophobia scale sensory profile childrens observed weight outcome body mass index z score bmiz childrens food intake estimated block kids food screener collected baseline colorado leap longitudinal eating physical activity study study childhood obesity preschoolaged children n 249 136 girls 113 boys aged 556 47 mo bmiz 054 114 caregivers n 180 57 hispanic 119 nonhispanic white nhw 4 unknown participated data analyzed pearson correlations multivariate hierarchical linear regression analyseslower scores childrens oral sensory characteristics ie atypical related higher neophobia ratings r 053 p 0001 neophobia negatively associated reported vegetable intake r 031 p 0001 dietary variety r 022 p 0001 hispanic caregivers reported atypical child sb scores 462 88 nhw caregivers 505 76 p 0006 however differences noted neophobia sb scores parent income education child sex neophobia negatively associated vegetable intake dietary variety p 0001 sbs associated childrens energy intake sugarsweetened beverages bivariate analyses r 018 p 005 however regression models ethnicity significantly associated energy sugarsweetened beverages p 0001 hispanic ethnicity positively associated sugarsweetened beverage consumption p 0001childrens neophobia sensory sensitivity may important understanding underlying issues related limited food acceptance typically developing young children helping caregivers facilitate healthy dietary intake patterns children trial registered clinicaltrialsgov nct01937481