Behavioral Indicators of Loss of Control over Eating: Bite Size and Bite Velocity

Loss of control (LOG) over eating is a common and psychopathologically relevant experience in childhood. The current study aimed at evaluating bite size and bite velocity as behavioral indicators of LOG eating in an experimental test meal study with a variation of mood. Children with or without LOG eating (N = 120, 8-13 years) consumed a parent-child test meal and a child-only meal consisting of snack food, following induction of negative mood. Bite size and bite velocity were determined through behavioral observation, food intake was measured, and sense of LOG and mood were rated. Children with LOG eating did not show greater bite size and bite velocity than children without LOG eating. Bite size of children with LOG eating was increased in negative mood and decreased in neutral mood. Greater bite size and bite velocity predicted greater food intake at test meal and snack eating and greater LOG over eating at snack eating, however, without an intervening influence of negative mood. Bite size was significantly associated with greater body weight of child and parent. Bite size and bite velocity were not significantly associated with eating disorder psychopathology and varying levels of LOG symptoms. The evidence as to whether bite size and bite velocity are suited as behavioral indicators of LOG eating is not clear-cut. Further research on behavioral indicators of childhood LOG eating is warranted.