Eating behaviour and weight status at 2 years of age: data from the Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study.

<bold>Background/objectives: </bold>To conduct an analysis of associations between eating behaviours and weight status in 2-year-old children.<bold>Subjects/methods: </bold>Data were collected prospectively in the maternal-infant dyad Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study. The weight status of children aged 2 years (n=1189) was assigned using the International Obesity Task Force BMI cutoffs using measured heights and weights. Eating behaviours were assessed using the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ).<bold>Results: </bold>Eighty percent of children were of normal weight, 14% were overweight or obese and 6% were underweight. From the CEBQ, food approach behaviours including Enjoyment of Food (odds ratio (OR)=1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.46-2.48) and Food Responsiveness (OR=1.73, 95% CI=1.47-2.03) were associated with overweight/obesity (all P<0.001). The food avoidant behaviours of Satiety Responsiveness (OR=2.03, 95% CI=1.38-2.98) and Slowness in Eating (OR=1.44, 95% CI=1.01-2.04) were associated with underweight at 2 years (all P<0.05).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Eating behaviours are associated with weight status as early as 2 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]