Fundamental Biobehavioral Mechanisms Underlying the Integrated Development of Emotion, Attachment, and Nutritive Intake in the Mother-Infant Dyad

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore the underlying biobehavioral processes involved in how emotions, attachment, and eating behaviors develop together in mothers and their infants. The study focuses on understanding how this integrated system relates to how mothers feed their children, the children's eating habits, dietary intake, and body fat. Participants must already be enrolled in a long-term observational study to take part. The study involves 150 children from the existing observational group. Researchers will use a behavioral task called the Caloric Compensation Index (COMPX), where they offer children high- and low-calorie drinks followed by free access to a tasty snack to observe eating behavior responses. This task is done when the children are approximately 18 and 36 months old. Participants will be observed during these tasks at set ages while their food intake is measured. The main outcome is the difference in how much energy the child consumes from the snack after different calorie preload drinks. The study collects data only from children, while mothers' data is part of the larger observational study. Participation involves monitoring eating behavior and energy intake up to around 36 months of age.

Mother-Baby Study - Caloric Compensation Index (COMPX)