Imitation of Food Intake and Choices in Children.

Summary of imitation study:


Preadolescents are asked to perform a cover task in two different sessions in which the participant has to cooperate with a same-sex confederate and in which the participant has to work alone on a puzzle for 10 minutes.

In the first session, normal-weight confederates are secretly signaled by a buzzer to consume a large or small amount of M&M’s, or are asked to eat no M&M’s at all. Participants are overweight or normal-weight children, who are not class mates of the confederates.
In the second session the participant is alone with the puzzle and palatable food in order to investigate food intake without social influence.


In both experiments the participant's food intake is measured in grams. All studies take place at primary schools in The Netherlands.

The majority of research in imitation and eating behaviour has been conducted in adolescents and adults in laboratory settings. The goal of this experimental research is to study imitation and eating behaviour in preadolescents with regard to the role of peers in their natural environment (primairy schools). Sex, age and weight differences will be investigated, together with the role of mothers and class mates. This research can contribute to more specific education at schools and at home regarding healthy and unhealthy food choices.

Primary outcomes:

Timepoint: 2 months screening in the first year in order to use randomized stratified sampling in the following studies.

Screening: gather information on bodyweight, height, age, sex and a sociometric questionnaire concerning class mates.



2 studies during 6 months of the first year:

1. An observational study with video equipment with regard to imitation behaviour, 3 eating conditions with M&M's, a confederate and the participant, and a questionnaire about self-esteem, social acceptance and impulsivity;

2. An observational social influence study with video equipment and palatable food, a questionnaire concerning background information, the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, and the Child Feeding Questionnaire.



Secondary oucomes:

Timepoint: 2 follow-up timepoints.

Information about body weight, height, age, sex and a sociometric questionnaire concerning class mates.

No intervention will take place. The participants and parents/caretakers will not be confronted with their behavior.