Review Article Ann Nutr Metab 2018;73:19–29 Appetite-Related Eating Behaviours: An Overview of Assessment Methods, Determinants and Effects on Children’s Weight Ana Freitas a Gabriela Albuquerque b Cláudia Silva a, d Andreia Oliveira a–c a Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal; b EPIUnit-Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; c Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; d FP-ENAS (UFP Unit of Research in Energy, Environment and Health), CEBIMED (Center of Studies in Biomedicine), Porto, Portugal Received: November 9, 2017 Accepted after revision: April 29, 2018 Published online: May 29, 2018 Andreia Oliveira Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296 PT–4200-150 Porto (Portugal) E-Mail acmo @ufp.edu.pt, acmatos @ispup.up.pt © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel E-Mail karger@karger.com www.karger.com/anm DOI: 10.1159/000489824 Keywords Appetite · Epidemiology · Feeding behaviour · Obesity · Paediatrics Abstract Identifying the underlying child-eating behaviours that con- tribute to weight differences across growth has been a con- stant challenge. This report reviews the various literature ap- proaches for assessing appetite regulation. In doing so, it attempts to understand how appetite control develops and determines the eating habits in early childhood, and its ef- fects on children’s weight status. The interaction between homeostatic and hedonic mechanisms largely explains the appetite regulation process. Homeostatic mechanisms are mediated by the biological need to maintain the body’s en- ergy reserves, increasing the motivation to eat. On the con- trary, the hedonic mechanisms are mediated by food re- ward, increasing the craving for high-palatable foods and triggering the release of dopamine and serotonin. There are many biological methods (plasma measurements of hor- mones, like leptin, ghrelin and insulin) and behavioural eval- uation methods of appetite. The Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire is most commonly used, due to its adequate psychometric properties tested in several population set- tings. The development of eating behaviours begins in ute- ro, and several determinants may contribute to a decrease in the ability to self-regulate dietary intake. Examples in- clude genetic predisposition, the first taste experiences and the family environment, a key determinant in this process. Several eating behaviours contribute most to childhood obesity. Among them, are the external eating (eating by ex- ternal stimuli, such as the mere presence of the food or its smell), food restriction (which may potentiate the uninhib- ited increased intake of the restricted foods) and emotional eating (intake due to emotional variations, especially nega- tive feelings). These eating behaviours have been linked to childhood obesity. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel