From the point of view of prevention, it is convenient to explore the association between eating behavior and the obese phenotype during school and adolescent age. The aim of the present study was to identify eating behavior patterns associated with nutritional status in Spanish schoolchildren. A cross-sectional study of 283 boys and girls (aged 6 to 16 years) was carried out. The sample was evaluated anthropometrically by Body Mass Index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentage (%BF). Eating behavior was analyzed using the CEBQ “Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire”. The subscales of the CEBQ were significantly associated with BMI, WHtR and %BF. Pro-intake subscales (enjoyment of food, food responsiveness, emotional overeating, desire for drinks) were positively related to excess weight by BMI (β = 0.812 to 0.869; p = 0.002 to <0.001), abdominal obesity (β = 0.543–0.640; p = 0.02 to <0.009) and high adiposity (β = 0.508 to 0.595; p = 0.037 to 0.01). Anti-intake subscales (satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating, food fussiness) were negatively related to BMI (β = −0.661 to −0.719; p = 0.009 to 0.006) and % BF (β = −0.17 to −0.46; p = 0.042 to p = 0.016).

Introduction: Certain behavioral traits increase the risk of obesity at early ages. Exploring patterns of eating behavior in schoolchildren using tools like the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) is crucial for obesity prevention and intervention. Before this study, the CEBQ had been validated in various languages, including Spanish, but only in preschool‐aged children, despite its previous use in various studies in the Spanish language and population. The objective is to assess the reliability and internal consistency of the CEBQ questionnaire applied to a sample of Spanish schoolchildren and to explore the association between eating behavior assessed through the CEBQ and nutritional status based on BMI.Methods: Parents or guardians of 283 Spanish schoolchildren aged 6–16 years completed the Spanish version of the CEBQ questionnaire. Factor analyses were conducted on all CEBQ items, and differences between genders and age groups were examined. Correlations between children's BMI Z‐scores and eating behaviors were analyzed through linear regression.Results: The factor analysis revealed that the CEBQ is suitable in its original structure of eight subscales translated into Spanish, demonstrating adequate reliability and acceptable correlations between subscales. Gender appears to have minimal influence on eating behavior. However, with increasing age, schoolchildren tend to eat more quickly and are less fussy about food (SE [slowness in eating] [p = 0.012] and FF [food fussiness] [p = 0.012] decrease). Positive associations were found between BMI Z‐scores and all pro‐eating dimension subscales, while negative associations were identified with all antieating dimension subscales (p < 0.05) except EUE (emotional undereating) (p = 0.106).Conclusions: The CEBQ is a valid psychometric tool that can be reliably used to assess eating behavior characteristics in Spanish schoolchildren aged 6–16 years.

Several precedents support an association between single nucleotide genetic polymorphisms (SNPs), the obese phenotype, and eating behavior in the infant-juvenile population. This study aims to study this aspect in depth, analyzing the eating behavior of a sample of schoolchildren from Madrid in regard to their genetic predisposition to obesity. A total of 258 schoolchildren, aged 6 to 16 years, were evaluated through the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) and the genotyping of 32 SNPs. Associations were observed between the total genetic risk score and eating behaviors related to emotional eating and food responsiveness. Individually, different SNPs were associated with eating behaviors, primarily those related to pro-eating behaviors or increased risk of developing obesity. However, diverse results are obtained, depending on the SNP. These results highlighted the strongest associations between the rs1801725 SNP risk allele (CASR) and increased enjoyment of food by 1846-fold. Likewise, the satiety response was associated with SNP rs11676272 (ADCY3) 2.39 and SNP rs7566605 (INSIG2), increasing this response by 2.39 and 1.63 times, respectively. Emotional anti-ingesting behaviors were inversely associated with SNP rs1421085 (FTO) and SNP rs987237 (TFAP2B). In contrast, SNP rs55915917 (CRHR1) increased the risk of these behaviors. SNPs rs4788099 (SH2B1), rs6857 (NECTIN2), and rs180172 (ADCY3) were associated with slow feeding. In conclusion, associations were found between most of the analyzed SNPs and the CEBQ items. This suggests that feeding behavior exists as a mediator between genotype and obesity phenotype, beginning in childhood.

Background: Field hockey is a high-intensity intermittent sport, where nutrition and sleep play an important role in the performance and health of all players, especially in women, who often exhibit a dietary pattern characterized by low energy and carbohydrate intake, along with poor nighttime habits. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the profile of female field hockey players by analyzing their energy and macronutrient intake, prevalence of LEA risk, use of SS, and sleep characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study was carried out with 75 female players. Validated questionnaires were used to determine general sports nutrition knowledge (NUKYA) and specific knowledge of carbohydrates in sports (CEAC-Q), sleep quality (ASSQ), low energy availability risk (LEAF-Q), and use of sport supplements. In addition, a 7-day dietary record was analyzed. Results: Players showed a high general nutrition knowledge (NUKYA mean: 66.0 ± 8.5 points; 68.0% scored high), but a pronounced deficiency in specific carbohydrate knowledge (CEAC-Q mean: 24.3 ± 14.9 points; 84.0% scored low). Dietary intake analysis revealed significant deficiencies: mean energy intake was 31.9 ± 10.8 kcal/kg/day, resulting in insufficient intake for 78.7% of players. Carbohydrate intake was particularly low (3.6 ± 1.5 g/kg/day), with 86.7% failing to meet recommendations. Furthermore, 33.3% of players were at risk of Low Energy Availability (LEA). LEA risk (LEAF-Q score) was negatively correlated with both protein (r = −0.363; p = 0.001) and carbohydrate intake (r = −0.347; p = 0.003). Regarding sleep, the mean disturbance score (SDS) was 6.5 ± 2.9 (mild disturbance), with 33.3% showing moderate–severe disturbance, and 92.0% sleeping ≤8 h. Finally, 78.7% of players used supplements, with usage correlated with CEAC-Q scores (r = 0.233; p = 0.044), and 86.4% were guided by non-professional sources. Conclusions: Female hockey players do not meet dietary recommendations for energy and carbohydrates and exhibit a high prevalence of low energy availability and sleep disturbances, despite having acceptable general sports nutrition knowledge. It is recommended to implement specific educational and nutritional strategies to enhance the knowledge, performance, and health of female hockey players.

Background/Objectives: Teaching is a profession characterized by a high burden of stress. This study examined sex differences in autonomic regulation by analysing heart rate variability (HRV) and body fat percentage (BF%) in teachers, explicitly hypothesizing that the association between adiposity and autonomic modulation (HRV) would be more consistent in men. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 253 teachers from compulsory and university education during the 2022–2023 academic year. HRV was obtained from heart rate recordings, and body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Analyses were stratified by sex and, in addition to comparisons based on the sex-specific median of fat mass (kg), ANCOVA models were performed and adjusted for age, teaching experience, and educational level. Results: Teachers with higher BF% were older (43.46 vs. 40.65 years; p = 0.007) and reported higher perceived stress (7.60 vs. 6.83; p = 0.034). In men, HRV was lower in the ≥p50 adiposity group, with reductions in RMSSD and pNN50 (p = 0.015–0.016). In women, RMSSD and pNN50 were not significant (p > 0.20; small effect sizes). In adjusted analyses (ANCOVA), no significant differences were found in men for any index; in women, HRmax and the LF/HF ratio were significant (small effects), whereas the remaining indices were not. Conclusions: Greater adiposity was associated with higher stress and lower HRV, particularly in men. In women, the pattern was more heterogeneous, and significance after adjustment was limited to HRmax and the LF/HF ratio, suggesting the need for sex-specific approaches to the assessment and promotion of psychophysiological well-being in teachers.

Background: Different investigations have shown an association between the eating behavior of children and adolescents, and their nutritional status. The objective is to identify eating behavior patterns associated with nutritional status diagnosed by anthropometry in a sample of Spanish schoolchildren. Methods: A cross-sectional study in 283 Spanish schoolchildren (6 to 16 years old). Methods: The sample was assessed anthropometrically by Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-to height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentage (%BF). Eating behavior was analyzed using the CEBQ "Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire" answered by parents or guardians. Results: A positive association was found between excess weight, abdominal obesity, high adiposity, lower scores in anti-intake subscales and higher scores in pro-intake subscales. These were mainly associated with lower satiety response, higher food intake, higher food enjoyment, higher eating speed, and emotional overeating. Conclusion: Our results support the usefulness of the CEBQ as an easy-to-use tool to identify eating behaviors associated with the development of childhood and adolescent obesity. Its use in future research could help to understand behavioral phenotypes in schoolchildren and guide nutrition education and obesity prevention initiatives