Eating speed in complementary fed infants: associations with energy intake, weight status, breastfeeding, baby food pouch use and baby-led weaning

Abstract Background Although eating quickly may promote excess energy intake and is associated with unhealthy weight in children, little research has investigated eating speed in infants. Objective To describe relationships between eating speed and energy intake, weight status and feeding practices in infants aged 7–10 months. Methods Eating speed was assessed in 625 infants (First Foods New Zealand observational study) using three methods: (i) two 24-h diet recalls; (ii) the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire ‘slowness in eating’ subscale; and (iii) one filmed eating occasion ( n = 205). The recalls also measured daily energy intake from complementary food. Infant length and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) z-scores calculated (WHO Child Growth Standards). Data on baby food pouch use, baby-led weaning (BLW) and breastfeeding were collected by questionnaire. Infants were defined as ‘frequent pouch users’ if they consumed food from a pouch 5+ times/week during the past month. ‘Full’ BLW was defined as the infant ‘mostly’ or ‘always’ feeding themselves. Results Slower eating was associated with lower energy intake from complementary food (mean difference: −125 kJ/day, 95% CI [−178, −71] for each 1 unit increase in ‘slowness in eating’ score). Compared to spoon-fed infants, ‘full’ BLW infants were slower eaters (diet recall, adjusted mean difference, −3 kJ/min [−6, −1]; video, −14 kJ/min [−23, −5]; ‘slowness in eating’, standardised mean difference, 0.6 SD [0.5, 0.8], indicating a moderate effect). Breastfed infants ate more slowly than formula-fed infants (diet recall, adjusted mean difference, −3 kJ/min [−6, −1]; video, −9 kJ/min [−17, −1]; ‘slowness in eating’, standardised mean difference, 0.3 SD [0.1, 0.5]). Conclusions Slower eating in infancy is associated with breastfeeding and lower daily energy intake from complementary food, but not weight status or frequent pouch use. Infants who usually feed themselves are slower eaters than those who are usually spoon-fed. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (registration number: ACTRN12620000459921; website: http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=379436 ).