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Table 1 Questions used for classifying children and proportion of children by eating behaviour at 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 years

From: Problem eating behaviors related to social factors and body weight in preschool children: A longitudinal study

Characteristic

Category

2.5 years

3.5 years

4.5 years

Behavior: Picky eater

 

14.0

16.9

15.9

When she/he is at home with you for the main meal, how often does she/he eat a meal that is different from the other members of your family?

Always

1.7

1.5

0.7

 

Almost always

3.7

2.5

2.5

 

Sometimes

11.5

13.0

15.4

 

Almost never

83.1

83.0

81.4

In general, does she/he refuse to eat the right food?

Never

29.0

22.7

17.9

 

Rarely

20.9

20.5

22.8

 

Sometimes

37.8

43.2

45.2

 

Often

12.3

13.6

14.1

In general, does she/he refuse to eat?

Never

25.1

29.1

32.1

 

Rarely

34.5

33.1

36.4

 

Sometimes

36.0

33.7

28.1

 

Often

4.4

4.1

3.4

Behavior : Overeater

 

22.2

18.9

23.4

In general, does she/he overeat?

Never

72.5

72.5

67.1

 

Rarely

16.8

17.7

20.9

 

Sometimes

9.1

8.0

9.8

 

Often

1.6

1.8

2.2

In general, does she/he eat too fast?

Never

68.3

71.1

67.2

 

Rarely

16.3

16.1

17.6

 

Sometimes

12.2

10.2

12.1

 

Often

3.2

2.6

3.1