Does chewing and food texture relate to weight in children?

Background: Childhood obesity is a multifactorial health condition associated with profound metabolic, psychosocial, and socioeconomic ramifications across the lifespan. Among eating behaviors associated with obesity, limited attention has been given to chewing and food texture as pathways that may influence energy intake and weight regulation. Existing pediatric research remains scarce, methodologically heterogeneous, and often inconclusive.

Aims: This study aims to examine associations between oral processing behaviors during a standardized meal, including eating duration, eating rate, Ghrelin levels, and anthropometric measures in healthy children.

Methods: Participants responding to public advertisements will be screened for eligibility, including age (6-11 years), health status, absence of food allergies or intolerances, dental or developmental problems, and measured weight and height to achieve a sample of 40 children with obesity and 40 with normal weight. In a randomized crossover design, participants will consume two isocaloric, non-processed test meals differing in food texture (soft vs. hard) during separate laboratory visits. Eating behavior will be objectively assessed using a Universal Eating Monitor with synchronized video analysis to quantify chewing time, number of chews, and eating rate. Salivary ghrelin, subjective satiety (measured using visual analog scales), and total daily energy intake (assessed via 24-hour dietary recall) will be evaluated, along with anthropometric, body composition, strength measures, and sociodemographic and behavioral data. To account for familial and shared environmental influences on eating behavior, at least one parent will undergo a parallel assessment, conducted separately from the participating child. Participants will receive a modest shopping voucher to facilitate retention. Associations between oral processing behaviors, physiological responses, and weight status will be examined using multivariable regression models. Exploratory mediation analyses will be conducted to assess whether ghrelin and satiety responses partially account for the observed associations.