Factors that shape dietary intake in children in the context of increasing risk for obesity development

Abstract

The development of obesity in childhood is the result of interplay between a complex array of multi-level factors, one of which is dietary intake. However, dietary intake in childhood itself is impacted by many factors operating at different levels. This special issue brings together a collection of papers that examine various factors influencing children's dietary intake. Rather than issuing a call for papers, this collection came together organically based on regular submissions, highlighting the growing body of research dedicated to understanding how children's dietary habits can contribute to obesity risk. These papers represent studies that have focused on the external (e.g., fast-food environment, ongoing rapid proliferation of ultra-processed foods) and social (e.g., the role of parents and schools, stress and adversity) environment, behavioural factors (e.g., reward and gratification, sleeping behaviour) and genetic factors, as well as maternal factors that promote intra-generational transmission. This is summarized in Figure 1. In a time when obesity development continues to rise globally, these studies may shed light on the complexity of one of the main drivers, namely dietary intake. Below we summarize the latest research in these areas resulting from the papers in this Special Issue.