Adiposity is not associated with childrenʹs reported liking for selected foods

It is often assumed that heightened liking for energy-dense foods contributes to the development of obesity, however previous findings on the association between adiposity and liking among common foods are inconclusive in adults and there is limited research in children. Therefore the present study assessed the association between adiposity and liking for fatty or sugary foods, fruits and vegetables in children. A community sample of children aged 7–9 years (N = 366) were recruited as part of the Physical Exercise and Appetite in CHildren Study (PEACHES). Anthropometric measurements (BMI- and waist-SD scores, fat mass index) were taken alongside self-reported liking for a list of fatty or sugary foods, fruits and vegetables. Regression analyses were used to predict liking from continuous adiposity measures (BMI- and waist-SD score, fat mass index). Linear trend analysis was used to assess the patterning of liking across weight categories. Vegetables were liked less than fatty or sugary foods or fruit, but there was no difference between liking for fruit and for fatty or sugary foods. Boys had a higher liking for fatty or sugary foods than girls, although sex-by-adiposity interactions were not significant for any of the food categories. There was no association between liking for any of the food categories and adiposity. This suggests that overweight in children is not reflective of differences in liking for selected common foods. Variation in appetitive responsiveness to food with increasing adiposity may be more salient in the development of obesity.