Juliana Couch
Research Mentor: Amanda Crandall
Mentor Department: Pediatrics, Medicine
Author(s): Juliana Couch, Amanda Crandall
Session: Session 2 (10:00 AM – 10:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 20
Abstract
This work is conducted in the CHOMP (Childhood Health: Origins in Mealtime and Play) Laboratory in the Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics under the direction of Dr. Amanda Crandall. The CHOMP laboratory seeks to identify modifiable risk factors for chronic disease early in the lifespan to inform targeted and tailored intervention strategies. Previous research has shown that both infant sucking behavior and having a high reinforcing value of food later in infancy are associated with obesity risk. However, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding how and when these traits develop. The current study examined infants’ sucking behavior in response to a challenge between two weeks and four months of age by examining their sucking effort on two bottle nipples, one typical and one with a slower flow rate. The reinforcing value of solid food was assessed at 12 months of age using an age-appropriate, progressively challenging motivation task that prompted infants to press a lever to obtain food portions. Our analysis will examine the developmental correlation between responses on these tasks. By analyzing the relationship of responses to a challenge surrounding food at these two ages, we are able to understand its origins that previously were unknown. The persistent challenge infants faced with a slow flow nipple may indicate early manifestations of a greater willingness to work for food. If an association is found, this suggests that obesity risk can be seen in infants as young as 2 weeks old through their responses to milk/formula. Identifying this allows for early intervention to protect the child against obesity.
