RUcore Resource Object
RUcore Resource Object
PDF-1(935.19 KB)
Uniform TitleEating behaviors and body weight in preadolescents classified by sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil: a follow-up study
NameNolen, Katherine A. (author), Tepper, Beverly (chair), Quadro, Loredana (internal member), Daun, Henryk (dissertation committee member), Hoffman, Daniel (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2008-05
Date Created2008
SubjectFood Science,
Obesity in children,
Food--Sensory evaluation
DescriptionOverweight in children is a problem of rising significance as obesity in America becomes more widespread. Understanding factors affecting the establishment of eating behaviors in children can potentially mitigate development of adiposity. This study investigated the influence of genetic sensitivity to the bitterness of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), environment and psychosocial factors on change in weight status from preschool to preadolescence. Children who originally participated in taste studies as preschoolers were identified and re-tested as preadolescents. Seventy-three children and their mothers were screened for PROP taster status and answered a questionnaire measuring dietary restraint and disinhibition. Children additionally gave three 24-hour recalls, and wore an activity monitor for 72hours. Data from the diet recalls were analyzed by nutrient composition as well as by USDA Food Group servings. For the results, phenotype of PROP taster status was stable since preschool, being satisfactorily reliable for test-retest (Cohen's Kappa >0.7). There were no significant differences among PROP taster groups for current BMI percentile or change in BMI percentile since preschool by Univariate analyses. Multivariate models provided greater insight since it provided the ability to control for other measurable forms of variance. Both Multiple Linear Regression and Hierarchical Regression showed that the single most influential factor for predicting current weight status was preschool weight status. In addition, dietary restraint was a significant positive predictor as was the interaction between gender and PROP taster status. Within females, PROP sensitivity was a significant positive predictor for body weight, whereas this was not true for males. However, subjects had a lower incidence of overweight than the national average and tended to have high physical activity. Thus, in order to elucidate the true impact of PROP sensitivity on eating behaviors, further studies should investigate the effect of PROP taster status on body weight in female children, particularly in an overweight population.
NoteM.S.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references (p. 71-79).
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.17366
LanguageEnglish
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.