Mealtime duration in problem and non-problem eaters

Abstract

Young children commonly encounter difficulties at mealtimes, which are important to address early to avoid the maintenance of problematic eating behaviour. Amongst these are drawn-out meals, which some research has associated with more mealtime problems. However, research on meal duration, and therefore guidelines for appropriate meal length, is lacking. This research aimed to compare the meal duration of problem-eaters and controls, and to examine changes to meal length amongst problem-eaters following a parenting intervention. The mealtimes of 96 problem-eaters and 105 controls were examined via parent-report and in-home observations; meal length was also compared amongst problem-eaters who had received intervention and a waitlist control. Meal duration was similar across groups, though problem-eaters engaged in more aversive behaviour and less eating than controls. Observed eating and mealtime behaviour altered following intervention but not duration. Parents who reported meal length as a specific concern had longer meals and reported less successful feeding than those who did not. These results suggest that what is happening during the meal may better distinguish problem-eaters than duration alone.