| Sugar has been found to have an increased food reinforcement value in children and adults, but this has not been tested in infants. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there is a correlation between the food reinforcement ratios in infants ages 9--18 months and the sugar content of their favorite foods. Previously collected, de-identified data from 106 infants were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize characteristics of the participants. The sugar content of infants' favorite foods and the food reinforcement ratios were compared using correlation coefficients. A significant correlation was found between the sugar content of foods and food reinforcement, as well as carbohydrates eaten (r = .242, p = .0127 and r = .232, p = .0173, respectively). The correlation between the sugar content of infants' favorite foods and the food reinforcement value of those foods implies the relationship between the two begins at a very early age. These findings are very important in a society struggling with increasing childhood obesity rates starting as young as infancy. Understanding what makes food so reinforcing to infants, a possibly contributing factor to excess weight due to increased consumption, could allow for the development of obesity prevention programs. Registered Dietitians can use these findings to create future obesity prevention programs aimed at reducing sugar consumption and replacing it with something the infant finds equally or more rewarding. |
