Self-reported eating speed is associated with overweight among Chinese schoolchildren: a cross-sectional survey

Purpose This study aimed to examine the association between eating speed and overweight in Chinese schoolchildren. Methods In all, 664 schoolchildren (10–12 years) from three primary schools participated in this study in China. Their height and body weight were measured. Information about eating speed and other lifestyle behaviors were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for overweight. Results Data from 629 students were analyzed. 26.2% of participants reported they were eating fast. The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was 22.9%, and the mean of sleep duration was 9.69 (SD = 0.63) hours (Table 1). In the multiple linear regression analysis, slower eating speed was independently associated with lower BMI ( B = − 0.70, 95% CI − 1.26 to − 0.14) and TG ( B = − 0.16, 95% CI − 0.28 to − 0.04). In addition, participants who ate fast were more likely to be overweight (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.19–2.75) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Conclusions This study indicates that eating fast is associated with overweight among Chinese school children. Level of evidence Cross-section descriptive study, Level V.