To identify predictors of eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) in low-income toddlers, describe affect during EAH, test EAH as a predictor of body mass index (BMI), and examine the type of food eaten as a predictor of BMI.METHODS: EAH, indexed as kilocalories (sweet, salty, and total) of palatable foods consumed after a satiating meal, was measured (n = 209) at ages 21, 27, and 33 months. Child gender, age, race/ethnicity, and previous exposure to the foods; maternal education and depressive symptoms; and family chaos, food insecurity, and structure were obtained via questionnaire. Child and mother BMI were measured. Child affect was coded from videotape. Linear regression was used to examine predictors of EAH and the association of kilocalories consumed and affect with 33 month BMI z-score (BMIz). RESULTS:Predictors of greater total kilocalories included the child being a boy (P < .01), being older (P < .001), and greater maternal education (P < .01). Being in the the top quartile of sweet kilocalories consumed at 27 months and showing negative affect at food removal had higher BMIz (β = 0.29 [95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.48] and β = 0.34 [95% confidence interval, 0.12 to 0.56], respectively).There was no association of salty kilocalories consumed or positive affect with BMIz. CONCLUSIONS:There was little evidence that maternal or family characteristics contribute to EAH. EAH for sweet food predicts higher BMIz in toddlerhood. Studies investigating the etiology of EAH and interventions to reduce EAH in early childhood are needed.

Objective: As prenatal diagnostic services expand throughout low-income countries, an important consideration is the appropriateness of these services for patients. In these countries, services now include prenatal ultrasound and occasionally genetic testing. To assess patient interest, we surveyed pregnant patients at a hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on their preferences for prenatal testing and termination of affected pregnancies for congenital anomalies and genetic diseases.Method: One hundred one pregnant patients were surveyed on their preferences for prenatal testing and termination of affected pregnancies using a survey covering various congenital anomalies and genetic diseases.Results: Eighty-nine percent of patients reported interest in testing for all conditions. Three percent of patients were not interested in any testing. Over 60% of patients reported interest in termination for anencephaly, early infant death, severe intellectual disability, hemoglobinopathy, and amelia. Patients were more likely to express interest in prenatal testing and termination for conditions associated with a shortened lifespan.Conclusion: Ethiopian patients were interested in prenatal testing and termination of pregnancy for many conditions. Advancing prenatal diagnostic capacities is a potential strategy for addressing the incidence of congenital anomalies and genetic disease in Ethiopia. Importantly, there exist many factors and technological limitations to consider before implementation.

Sucking behavior has been described as an obesity risk marker. Sucking behavior in response to challenge has not been examined as a prospective predictor of infant weight gain. Healthy, full term infants had sucking behavior assessed at ages 2 weeks and/or 2 months via a sucking pressure measurement device in two feeding conditions: during a standard feeding and during a feeding with a more challenging nipple. Weight and length were measured at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months and weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) calculated. Among 45 full term infants, adjusted for age at measurement and time since last feeding, the challenging versus typical feedings differed with regard to amount consumed (54.1g vs. 65.6g, p<.05), maximum sucking pressure (121.3mmHg vs. 99.2mmHg, p<.05), mean burst duration (17.5s vs. 28.4s, p<.05), and feeding duration (18.51 minutes vs. 13.89 minutes, p<.01). Grams consumed in the challenging, but not typical, feeding, adjusted for age and time since last feeding, predicted rate of change in WLZ from time of measurement to age 4 months (r=0.46, p=.013 for challenging, r=−0.

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