Taste-related factors and food neophobia: Are they associated with nutritional status and teenagers' food choices?

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of taste-related factors (craving for sweets, using food as a reward and pleasure) and food neophobia with nutritional status and food intake among teenagers.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 132 teenagers 15 to 19 y of age. Food behavior, anthropometrics, body composition, and lifestyle measurements were obtained and analyzed.

Results: Craving for sweets was associated with overweight, adiposity, meal skipping, physical inactivity, and intake of sweets (P < 0.05). Reward was linked to adiposity, physical inactivity, lack of interest in information about food, and intake of sweets (P < 0.05). Pleasure was associated with physical inactivity, lack of interest in information about food, and intake of sweets and soft drinks (P < 0.05). Teenage girls had a higher craving for sweets (22.88 ± 4.77) and higher pleasure scores (21.50 ± 3.82), body fat (25.33 ± 6.60), meal skipping (63.2%), and physical inactivity (64.7%) than their male counterparts (P < 0.05). There was no association among food neophobia, nutritional status, and food intake.

Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that, in contrast to food neophobia, taste-related factors can be associated with body fat and inadequate food choices in teenagers. However, this was a cross-sectional study and further cohort studies should be performed for in-depth investigation of a causal relationship between the findings of this research.