‘Finish Your Soup’: Counterproductive Effects of Pressuring Children to Eat On Intake and Affect

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Amy Galloway Ph.D., Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/

Abstract: The authors examined whether pressuring preschoolers to eat would affect food intake and preferences, using a repeated-measures experimental design. In the experimental condition, children were pressured to eat by a request to finish their food. We collected intake data, heights and weights, child-feeding practices data, and children's comments about the food. Children consumed significantly more food when they were not pressured to eat and they made overwhelmingly fewer negative comments. Children who were pressured to eat at home had lower body mass index percentile scores and were less affected by the pressure in the lab setting than children who were not pressured at home. These data provide experimental evidence supporting previous correlational research indicating that pressure can have negative effects on children's affective responses to and intake of healthy foods.

Additional Information

Publication
Galloway, A. T., Fiorito, L. M., Francis, L., & Birch, L. L. (2006). “Finish your soup”: Counterproductive effects of pressuring children to eat on intake and affect. Appetite, 46(3): 318-323. (May 2006) Published by Elsevier (ISSN: 1095-8304). doi:10.1016/j.appet.2006.01.019
Language: English
Date: 2006

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