6533b82afe1ef96bd128b7af

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Early development of hedonic and motivational aspects of eating behaviour

subject

description

Eating is essential for survival. However, the newborn is not an autonomous eater, and has to learn ‘how', ‘what', ‘when', and ‘how much' to eat quickly enough to ensure harmonious growth and development. In other nutritional areas, it has been shown during the past 20 years that early experiences are likely to impact long-term health outcomes. Thus, it appears fundamental to understand the early development of hedonic and motivational aspects of eating behaviour. This presentation will describe several studies conducted in our group during the past 10 years, in order to gain more knowledge about the development of what and how much children eat, in relation with food sensory and nutritional properties. Food likes are not innate but can develop very early in relation with eating experience. Preterm birth may be associated with eating difficulties. Early flavour experiences impact food acceptance at the time of complementary feeding, in relation with the infant's exposure to flavours from the maternal diet, that can be transmitted to amniotic fluid or maternal milk. Beyond this stage of flavour discoveries, the most important phase for learning to eat is likely to be the transition from milk feeding to a diversified diet, i.e. the beginning of complementary feeding. At this moment, infants discover the sensory (texture, taste and flavour) and nutritional properties (energy density) of the foods that will ultimately compose their adult diet. Complementary feeding practices such as repeated exposure, introducing a variety of foods, and of food sensory properties may modulate the acceptance of new foods by infants. Moreover, dietary exposures will shape food likes and determine expected satiation, as revealed in infants as well as in school-aged children. Perspectives will be discussed to further study the early programming of eating behaviour.