Child dietary and eating behavior outcomes up to 3.5 years after an early feeding intervention: The NOURISH RCT.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate dietary intake impact outcomes up to 3.5 years after the NOURISH early feeding intervention (concealed allocation, assessor masked randomized controlled trial).

METHODS

In this study, 698 first-time mothers with healthy term infants were allocated to receive anticipatory guidance on protective feeding practices or usual care. Outcomes were assessed at 2, 3.7, and 5 years (3.5 years post-intervention). Dietary intake was assessed by 24-h recall and Child Dietary Questionnaire. Mothers completed a food preference questionnaire and Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Linear mixed models assessed group, time, and time × group effects.

RESULTS

There were no group or time × group effects for fruit, vegetable, discretionary food, and nonmilk sweetened beverage intake. Intervention children showed a higher preference for fruit (74.6% vs. 69.0% liked, P < 0.001), higher Child Dietary Questionnaire score for fruit and vegetables (15.3 vs. 14.5, target ≥18, P = 0.03), lower food responsiveness (2.3 vs. 2.4, of maximum 5, P = 0.04), and higher satiety responsiveness (3.1 vs. 3.0, of maximum 5, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with usual care, an early feeding intervention providing anticipatory guidance regarding positive feeding practices led to small improvements in child dietary score, food preferences, and eating behaviors up to 5 years of age, but not in dietary intake measured by 24-h recall.