Conclusions: Children of mothers who use food for emotion regulation consume more sweet palatable foods in the absence of hunger than do children of mothers who use this feeding practice infrequently. (academic.oup.com)
«Eating in the absence of hunger is associated with being overweight among older children, but this is the first time we've seen this link in children as young as toddlerhood,» says senior author Julie C. Lumeng, M.D., a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at U-M's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. (uofmhealth.org)
A new study published in the journal Eating Behaviors found that indeed, snacking in the absence of hunger can cause just as much weight gain as consuming high calorie foods or oversized portions. (health.com)