Eating Habits among Overweight, Obese, and Normal Weight First-Grade Lithuanian Children

Objectives To compare the eating habits among Lithuanian first-grade children with overweight, obesity, and normal weight. Materials and Methods Presented data of Lithuanian first-graders was collected while participating in the sixth round of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in 2023. Anthropometric measurements were performed in 94 schools of 10 counties of Lithuania, and 3355 first-graders were measured. The estimated BMI groups were assessed according to the IOTF cut-offs (2012): normal weight n = 2252, overweight n = 441, obesity n = 203. The Family questionnaire was used to evaluate eating behavior among first-grade children. The chi-square test was used to analyze the dependence between two nominal variables. Differences were statistically significant when p < 0.05. Results Children with obesity ate breakfast daily significantly less frequently, in comparison with normal weight children (46.2% vs. 60.6%, p < 0.001). A higher daily consumption of fruits and vegetables was significantly more common (respectively p = 0.028 & p = 0.005) in children with normal weight (respectively 43.0% and 44.5%, ) than children with overweight (respectively 40.1% and 38.7%) and obesity (respectively 35.7% and 37.2%). The proportion of children eating porridge for more than 4 days per week was significantly lower (p = 0.0007) in the group of children living with obesity (16.9%) and overweight (15.1%), compared to children with normal weight (21.8%). The frequent consumption of sweet snacks was significantly more common (p = 0.019) in children with normal weight (34.5%) than children with overweight (31.8%) and obesity (25.1%). There were no significant differences in meat, fish, eggs, 100% fruit juice, soft drinks (with and without sugar), savory snacks, and most dairy products consumption among different children’s BMI groups. Conclusions The study demonstrates that Lithuanian first-grade children with overweight and obesity have less healthy eating habits compared to those with normal weight. These children tend to consume more unhealthy food choices, which may contribute to their weight status. While general dietary habits differ, certain food categories are consistently consumed across all BMI groups.