Researchers have identified a correlation between young children displaying intense hunger and later development of eating disorders. Specifically, those aged four or five who exhibited strong cravings upon exposure to food were found to exhibit symptoms of eating disorders between ages 12 and 14. Conversely, children who acquired slower eating habits and felt satiated faster were less prone to such disorders during adolescence.
Uncontrolled eating in children leads to eating disorders
Dr. Ivonne Derks from the University College London Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care suggests that while their study cannot establish causality, it indicates that responsiveness to food cues might be a predisposing risk factor for the development of eating disorder symptoms during adolescence.
Derks cautions that while it’s normal for kids to have a massive appetite, it becomes worrisome if they cannot control their food intake. This is cited as a potential risk factor for future eating disorders, alongside various other factors. Research indicates a connection between a strong desire to eat and a heightened risk (16 -47%) of developing symptoms like binge eating, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, restrained eating, and compensatory behaviors.
In a study, binge eating was found to be the primary eating disorder symptom among children exhibiting high food responsiveness, accounting for 47% of cases. Binge eating was defined as consuming large amounts of food or feeling a lack of control over eating.
Food responsive adolescents more likely to engage in binge eating
Adolescents rated high in food responsiveness by their parents were nearly three times as likely to engage in binge eating compared to those with normal appetites. This increase was associated with restrained eating behaviors aimed at weight loss or prevention of weight gain.
Early childhood emotional overeating correlates with engaging in compensatory behaviors like skipping meals, fasting, and excessive exercise. However, not all childhood eating behaviors increase the risk of eating disorder symptoms; some behaviors act as protective factors. Children with higher satiety responsiveness are less likely to exhibit uncontrolled eating. Eating slowly aids in control and satiety. Traits like food fussiness, emotional undereating, and enjoyment of food don’t seem linked to adolescent eating disorder symptoms.
