Women with obesity breastfeed for shorter durations than women of normal-weight body mass index (BMI). There is also evidence to suggest that women with obesity are less likely to initiate breastfeeding. This is important because breastfeeding is associated with a small, but significant, reduced risk of obesity among offspring; which may be particularly important for the offspring of mothers with obesity as these infants are at an increased risk of obesity. Using data prospectively collected during 2015 by medical staff in a large maternity hospital, we aimed to explore the association between maternal obesity status and early breastfeeding outcomes: breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge (approx. day 2 of life). Data were obtained from electronic records for all births in The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin in 2015. We included data from mothers who delivered a healthy, full-term, singleton infant (n = 7449). At the booking visit (approx. 12 weeks’ gestation), maternal height and weight were objectively measured by nursing staff and subsequently used to calculate BMI; other demographic data were recorded at this time. At delivery, epidural use, mode of delivery, and infant sex and weight were recorded. At discharge, mode of feeding was recorded. In SPSS, we explored unadjusted and adjusted associations between obesity status (BMI < 30kg/m2 [n = 964] vs. BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 [n = 6485]) and breastfeeding outcomes (dichotomous: yes/no) using Chi-squared analysis and multivariate logistic regression, respectively. In unadjusted analyses, there was a significant association between obesity status and breastfeeding initiation; 76% of women without obesity initiated breastfeeding compared with 59% of women with obesity (P < 0.001). There was also a significant association between obesity status and exclusive breastfeeding; 69% of women without obesity were exclusively breastfeeding at discharge compared with 37% of women with obesity (P < 0.001). In logistic regression analyses adjusted for maternal age, ethnicity, marital status, smoking status, parity, epidural use and delivery mode, the odds of women with obesity initiating breastfeeding were 51% lower than women without obesity (odds ratio [OR] 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42–0.57; P < 0.001). Similarly, in adjusted analyses, the odds of women with obesity exclusively breastfeeding at hospital discharge were 54% lower than women without obesity (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.38–0.51; P < 0.001). Research is needed to understand whether the negative association between obesity and breastfeeding is biological or cultural in origin, or both. Interventions to promote and support breastfeeding among women with obesity may improve breastfeeding outcomes.

Recent evidence suggests that menaquinones (Vitamin K2) may be important for both bone health and cardiovascular health. With the exception of menaquinone-4 which is formed from the tissue specific conversion of phylloquinone or menadione, menaquinones are synthesized by bacteria. They are typically found in foods of animal origin such as meat, dairy and fermented foods and may account for up to 25% of total vitamin K intake. There are few data available on menaquinone intakes in population groups due to lack of available composition data. The Irish food composition database however has recently been updated to include data on menaquinones. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use these data to estimate the intakes and key dietary sources of menaquinones (menaquinone-4 & menaquinone-5–10) in the Irish population.

Analyses included data from four nationally representative surveys of the Irish population; The National Pre-School Nutrition Survey (1–4y; 2010–2011), the National Children's Food Survey (5–12y; 2003–2004), the National Teens’ Food Survey (13–17y; 2005–2006) and the National Adult Nutrition Survey (18–90y; 2008–2010) (www.iuna.net). For all of the surveys, food and beverage intake data (including supplements) were collected using food records and quantified using food scales, photographic atlases, household measures and standard portion sizes. Mean daily intakes of menaquinone-4 and menaquinone-5–10 were estimated using UK food composition tables and analytical values from published papers. The percent contribution of food groups to menaquinone intake was calculated by the mean proportion method (which provides information about the sources that are contributing to the nutrient intake ‘per person’). Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS© V22.

Mean intakes of menaquinone-4 ranged from 8–12μg/d and 10–14μg/d in children aged 1–17 years and adults aged 18–90 years, respectively. Mean combined intakes of menaquinone-5–10 ranged from 32–43μg/d and 32–50μg/d in children aged 1–17 years and adults aged 18–90 years, respectively. ‘Meat & meat products’ were the top contributor of menaquinone-4 (50–66%) intakes across all population groups followed by ‘milks’ (9–25%). ‘Meat & meat products’ (44–61%) and ‘cheeses’ (21–37%) were important contributors to menaquinone-5–10 intakes across all population groups examined.

This study is the first of its kind to report the intakes and sources of menaquinones in the Irish population. ‘Meat & meat products’, ‘cheeses’ and ‘milks’ are important contributors to intakes of menaquinones in the Irish diet. Further research is required to fully understand the role of the menaquinones in human health.

The role of fathers in child rearing has changed in recent years due to an increase in maternal employment, which has increased the prevalence of co-parenting. It is important therefore to establish the role fathers have in feeding their child and how their attitudes and perceptions may influence the strategies they employ during mealtimes. In addition, research suggests that maternal and paternal feeding practices are associated with child's gender and weight status. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the association between fathers’ perception of child's weight and paternal non-responsive and structure-related feeding practices, and the extent to which this is mediated by a child's gender.

Cross-sectional data from an Irish sample of fathers, who completed an online survey based on one of their children aged 5–12 years old (n = 155). The Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire (FPSQ) assessed paternal feeding practices, and it was validated for use within this sample. A 5-point Likert scale response ranging from Very Underweight to Very Overweight to the question “Do you think your child is . . ?” assessed fathers’ perception of child's weight. Associations were assessed using multiple linear regressions.

Fathers who perceived their sons as underweight reported higher levels of rewarding the child to eat (β = .24; p = 0.04) and overt restriction (β = .27; p = 0.03) than fathers who perceived their sons to be normal weight. Fathers who perceived their sons as overweight reported higher levels of overt restriction (β = .26; p = 0.04) than fathers who perceived their son to be normal weight. In relation to daughters, fathers who perceived them as underweight reported higher levels of both reward for behaviour (β = .28; p = 0.006) and reward for eating (β = .20; p = 0.04), while fathers who perceived their daughters as overweight reported lower levels of structured mealtimes (β = -.27; p = 0.012) compared to fathers who perceived their daughter as normal weight.

Findings suggest that paternal perception of child's weight influences the type of feeding practices utilised by fathers, with the child's gender a mediating influence on reported specific feeding practices. Overall, fathers who perceive their son or daughter to be underweight or overweight appear to engage in more non-responsive and less structure-related feeding practices than fathers who perceive their child to be normal weight.

The aim of this study was to determine the types of eating behaviours most common among Irish teenagers and to explore their association with age, sex and Body Mass Index (BMI). Eating behaviour data from the National Teenage Food Consumption Survey (NTFS1 2005/06 n = 441, m/f 224/217) were analysed. The Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) contains 33 items, which make up 3 scales: Restraint (DEBQ-Res, 10 items), Emotional (DEBQ-Em, 13 items), External (DEBQ-Ex, 10 items). All items are answered on a 5 point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric Wilcoxin-Mann-Whitney U tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests, one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey analysis, and Spearman correlations were run to test associations between age, sex and BMI variables and the 3 DEBQ scales. Data were analysed for the full group and stratified by sex and age groups (13–14/15–17 years). BMI categories were determined using age and sex-specific IOTF cut-offs. Mean(SD) scores among the whole group were DEBQ-Ex = 2.83(0.72), DEBQ-Res = 1.79(0.84), DEBQ-Em = 1.84(0.79). Females scored higher than males on all 3 scales; DEBQ-Res P < 0.001, DEBQ-Em P < 0.001, DEBQ-Ex P = 0.037. Older teens scored significantly higher than younger teens on DEBQ-Em (P < 0.001) and DEBQ-Ex (P = 0.005). Scores were higher for older males compared with younger males on DEBQ-Em (P = 0.009) and DEBQ-Ex (P = 0.017), and for older females compared with younger females on DEBQ-Res (P = 0.031) and DEBQ-Em (P = 0.001). BMI was positively correlated with DEBQ-Res for both males (r = 0.18, P = 0.007) and females (r = 0.337, P < 0.001) and with DEBQ-Em for females (r = 0.153 P = 0.026). When comparing BMI categories, teens classified as overweight (P < 0.001) and obese (P = 0.005) scored higher on DEBQ-Res than normal-weight teens. Similar associations were observed when the sample was split by sex and by age group. Overall, Irish teens’ eating behaviours are mostly influenced by external factors, such as the sight or smell of food, rather than by restrained eating or emotional cues for eating. However, not all teens respond to the same influences. Females respond more than males to emotional cues for eating. Older teens have higher scores than younger teens on all scales. BMI is mostly associated with restrained eating, which is consistent with other literature suggesting that heavier teens are more aware of what they are eating and make focussed food choices to prevent weight gain. When targeting food choice messages to teens, a “one-size-fits-all” model may not be appropriate. Multiple factors, including age, sex and BMI differences, should be considered in order to encourage a positive change in eating behaviours.

Being physically active is associated with fundamental health benefits and assists with the maintenance of normal weight in children. The current World Health Organizations’ recommendation is for children to accumulate 60 minutes of physical activity (PA) per day to obtain such benefits. Conversely, time spent in sedentary behaviours including watching screens (ST) are positively associated with the risk of overweight and obesity in young people. The aim of this research was to estimate PA levels and ST usage of Irish children and to examine the relationship with body fat.

This analysis was based on data collected from a nationally representative sample of Irish children aged 5–12-years (n = 591, 50% female) from The National Children's Food Consumption Survey II (www.iuna.net). The Child/Youth Physical Activity Questionnaires (C-PAQ/Y-PAQ) were used to measure PA and ST in 5–8 and 9–12-year-olds respectively. Both questionnaires were self-administered, recall instruments that assessed the frequency/duration of activities participated in over the previous 7-day period. The MET minutes (metabolic cost of the activity multiplied by the duration in minutes) of the PA's were calculated per child. Percentage body fat (%BF) was measured by a Tanita BC420MA device and participants were classified into categories based on their %BF, age and gender. Independent t-tests and ANOVA (post-hoc DunnettT-3) were used to assess differences between gender and %BF category.

Overall, children spent 93 mins/d being physically active with 69% meeting the > 1hr recommendation. There was a significant difference in the time spent undertaking PA between boys (99 mins/d) and girls (88 mins/d) p = 0.020. Children spent 107 mins/d watching screens with 68% meeting the < 2hr guidance. Girls spent significantly less time watching screens (89 mins/d) than boys (124 mins/d) p ≤ 0.001. Children who had a normal %BF accumulated more PA MET mins/day compared to those who were classified as obese, which was significant in the total population (p = 0.007), for boys (p ≤ 0.001), but not girls (p = 0.929).

This preliminary analysis indicates that a high proportion of Irish children are meeting the PA and ST recommendations, with boys being more physically active and spending more time watching screens compared to girls. However, results should be interpreted with caution as PA and ST usage were self-reported by participants. The association between PA MET minutes and %BF suggest that advice to encourage PA participation to combat excess adiposity in Irish children is justified. Future work should examine the role of other potential determinants of obesity in this cohort.

Little consideration has been given to the long-term consequences of iron deficiency in new-born infants. Fetal iron accretion is compromised by multiple pregnancy complications including preterm birth, gestational diabetes mellitus and fetal growth restriction, while our work has identified increased risks from maternal lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity for low iron stores at birth. Early-life events, including C-section delivery, also add to this cumulative risk of neonatal iron deficiency, predisposing infants to iron deficiency later in infancy and early childhood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of neonatal iron deficiency on neurological development up to 5 years of age in term-born participants of a maternal-infant birth cohort in Ireland. In the Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort, 697 maternal-infant dyads with prospectively collected lifestyle and clinical data from 15 weeks’ gestation had umbilical cord serum ferritin concentrations measured. Neurological assessments were performed at 2 (Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Child Behaviour Checklist [CBCL]) and 5 (Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test and CBCL) years of age. In the cohort, median [IQR] cord ferritin concentrations were 200.9 [139.0,265.8] μg/L; 7.5% had neonatal iron deficiency (< 76μg/L). Using the risk factors for neonatal iron deficiency that we previously identified (smoking, obesity, C-section delivery, SGA) in this cohort, as selection criteria, we conducted an a priori sensitivity analysis in 306 children. Of the 306 children identified as high-risk, 12.4% had neonatal iron deficiency. Those with neonatal iron deficiency had higher median [IQR] CBCL internal (9.0 [5.3,12.0] vs. 5.0 [3.0,10.0]), external (7.5 [4.0,14.8] vs. 5.0 [2.0,10.0]) and total problem (24.5 [15.3,40.8] vs. 16.0 [10.0,30.0], all P < 0.05) scores at 5 years compared to those without neonatal deficiency. This adverse effect was especially apparent in children of obese mothers (n = 85) who were iron deficient at birth, with a total problem score at 5 years of 42.0 [24.5,54.5] compared to 16.0 [8.8,29.3] in those not deficient (P = 0.008). Associations were robust to adjustment for confounding factors. No effect on cognition or intelligence at 2 or 5 years was observed in this cohort. This study has identified behavioural consequences of neonatal iron deficiency. Interventions targeting the fetal/neonatal period could, therefore, represent a key opportunity for prevention of iron deficiency and its associated long-term neurological consequences. A dual approach is required, comprising public health strategies targeting prevention, through improving nutrition and health in women, and the development of screening strategies for early detection of iron deficiency in new-borns.

Empirically derived dietary patterns are useful to describe food consumption habits within population groups. The aim of the study was to analyse dietary patterns as well as changes of these patterns within the last decade among German adolescents.

Dietary patterns were analyzed for 12 to 17 years old participants of two waves of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS Baseline (2003–2006) N = 5.197 and KiGGS Wave 2 (2014–2017) N = 5.199). KiGGS is part of the nationwide health monitoring in Germany. Food consumption was assessed by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Based on this information, dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis in a former analysis for KiGGS Baseline(1) and in this new analysis for KiGGS Wave 2. In KiGGS Baseline three major dietary patterns were identified (‘western’, ‘traditional’, and ‘healthy’) among boys and two among girls (‘western/traditional’, and ‘healthy’).

In KiGGS wave 2 the ‘traditional’ pattern could not be identified anymore among boys and a new pattern, the ‘sandwich’ pattern was identified among girls and boys. The ‘sandwich’ pattern was positively correlated with the intake of bread, processed meat, cheese, butter/margarine, jam, cake/cookies, and among boys also confectionary. Compared to the former ‘traditional’ dietary pattern among boys, the new ‘sandwich‘ pattern shows similarities (bread, processed meat and butter/margarine) but the former warm meal components are missing (meat and potatoes).There were only slight differences in the food groups associated with the ‘western’, ‘western/traditional’ or ‘healthy’ pattern between both surveys.

Within the past decade dietary patterns changed among German adolescents. In 2014–2017 a new ‘sandwich’ pattern was identified among boys and girls, and the ‘traditional’ dietary pattern was not found any more among boys. This change could be associated with more frequent food consumption out of home among adolescents. Within the past decade, the school system in many German federal states was restructured from half-day schools towards whole-day schools and the utilization of meal supply within schools almost doubled among adolescents. These changes may have influenced the food consumption habits among adolescents.

Relatively convincing evidence suggests that diets with large amounts of added sugar, especially from sugar-sweetened beverages, are associated with excess weight in children. Less is known about the association of consumption frequency of sugary foods with body mass index (BMI). We evaluated frequency of sugary food consumption in children (n = 8,990, mean age 11.1, ± 0.9) from the Finnish Health in Teens (Fin-HIT) cohort study. They answered a questionnaire including a 16-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and lifestyle-related questions, e.g. sleep duration and leisure time physical activity. Their measured BMI was categorized as underweight, normal-weight, and overweight. Based on the FFQ with six sugary food items (chocolate/sweets, biscuits/cookies, ice cream, sweet pastry, sugary juice drinks and sugary soft drinks), a sugary food index (SFI) was derived to indicate a mean frequency of weekly sugary food consumption. Frequency was estimated with a range of 0–14 times a week. Based on quartiles (Q) of SFI, children were categorized as low (Q1, cut-off < 0.7), medium (Q2 + Q3, cut-off 0.7–1.8), and high (Q4, cut-off > 1.8) consumers. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to obtain odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Compared with normal-weight children, high consumers had a higher risk for underweight (OR 1.22 [1.04; 1.43]) and a lower risk for overweight (OR 0.86 [0.72; 0.97]), and low consumers had a higher risk for overweight (OR 1.32 [1.14; 1.52]). We further stratified the analysis by sleep duration since we found an interaction between sleep duration and SFI (p < 0.001). In children with recommended sleep duration (n = 8070), we yielded similar results as in the whole group. In children who slept more than recommended (n = 191), high consumers had a higher risk for overweight (OR 3.31 [1.30; 8.42]) compared with normal-weight children. Our results suggest that consuming sugary foods with high frequency is not associated with overweight, except in those sleeping more than recommended. Association between low consumption frequency and overweight may imply that overweight children's consumption frequency of sugary foods is controlled, restricted, or under-reported because of social desirability.

The relationship between social vulnerabilities and the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to prevent obesity in children is poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the association between parental employment and the effectiveness of IDEFICS, a multilevel behavioral intervention aiming to prevent obesity among children (2 to 9.9 years old) in eight European countries. Data from 9,901 children and their parents was included in the analysis. We determined the Body Mass Index (BMI) z-score mean difference as the measurement of the intervention effectiveness and we calculated it as the follow-up (T1) BMI z-score mean minus baseline (T0) BMI z-score mean. Parents self-reported their employment status at T0 and T1. Children were classified, at both study times (T0 and T1), as children with employed parents (both parents employed) or as children with unemployed parents (one or both parents unemployed or receiving social assistance). We calculated unadjusted and adjusted multilevel mixed model analyses to evaluate if the employment status at T0 and the evolution of the employment status within a two-year period (from T0 to T1) predicted the BMI z-score mean difference among boys and girls. In boys, parental unemployment at T0 and throughout a two-year period (T0 to T1) predicted an increase of BMI z-score mean difference when compared to boys with employed parents (unemployment at T0: adjusted β = 0.12; p = 0.028; and unemployment from T0 to T1: adjusted β = 0.20; p = 0.031). We found no difference in the effectiveness of the IDEFICS intervention among girls with unemployed parents at T0 and from T0 to T1 when compared to girls with employed parents (unemployment at T0: adjusted β = 0.04; p = 0.337; and unemployment from T0 to T1: adjusted β = 0.10; p = 0.216, respectively). Our results suggest that the influence of parental unemployment in the IDEFICS outcome is different for boys and girls. Employment of both parents, which is related to a higher income, could contribute the families to engage healthier eating and physical activity behaviors among boys. Future multilevel interventions should include a combination of community-based and school-based components, as well as family-centered components, specifically on those families with parents out of the labor force, to address specific barriers or vulnerabilities that prevent them from improving behavior and weight status.

In Baby-Led Weaning (BLW), infants are offered foods they can pick up and feed themselves from the start of complementary feeding. Infants who are fully BLW are not spoonfed at all by their parents, feeding themselves all their foods instead. The Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) study was a randomised controlled trial of the effect of a modified version of BLW5 on infant growth, iron status, and risk of choking, and provides an opportunity to investigate parents’ experiences of using a baby-led approach to infant feeding. Complementary feeding methods are usually chosen by parents, so it is important to ascertain whether parents find a baby-led method of introducing solids acceptable if they are assigned to follow it. This is both to determine whether it would be feasible to randomise them to follow BLW in future randomised controlled trials and because, if beneficial effects of BLW are shown, policy makers need to know whether parents would find it acceptable to follow BLW. The aim of this analysis was to determine the acceptability to parents of a baby-led approach to complementary feeding when their infant was 7 to 12 months of age. In total, 206 participants were randomised to Control (n = 101) or BLISS (n = 105) groups in the third trimester of pregnancy. When the infants were 7, 8, 9, and 12 months of age, questionnaires were administered to determine parents’ happiness and frustration with their feeding method, and attitudes regarding its convenience, mess, and expense. Food cost was estimated using supermarket prices linked to a 3-day weighed diet record collected at 7 months of age. Both groups reported high levels of happiness and convenience, but also reported finding complementary feeding very frustrating. There were two significant differences between the groups – the BLISS group reported less messiness, and were more likely to perceive their method as expensive. The actual food cost per day was not statistically significantly different between the two groups (NZ$1.70 for BLISS, NZ$1.90 for Controls). In conclusion, parents did not find a baby-led approach to introducing solids any less acceptable than control parents found standard infant feeding. It is, therefore, feasible to run studies where parents are randomised to follow a baby-led approach to complementary feeding and, should health advantages to BLW be identified, parents are likely to find BLW acceptable to follow.

Research has assessed the diets of young children that follow a diet that excludes cow's milk. However, there is insufficient information about why parents decide to exclude cow's milk, where they obtain nutritional information, and their child's eating behaviours. This is important as the prevalence of cow's milk allergy is increasingly common in children, alongside a growing preference for plant-based diets. The purpose of this research was firstly to explore why parents exclude cow's milk from their child's diets and if this is due to recommendations from a health care professional. Secondly, to understand where parents source information to enable them to provide a healthy diet for their child. Finally, to explore parent's opinions of their child's eating behaviours.

Thirty parents of children aged 1–3 years who exclude cow's milk and 20 parents of children who did not follow a restricted diet completed an online questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised of three blocks of questions. The first asked about the parents, the second pertained to the child. If they excluded cow's milk they were asked why they made this decision and who advised them. Parents were also asked where they source nutrition information for their child. The final block of questions consisted of the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire.

Parents reported excluding cow's milk due to cow's milk allergy (60%), lactose or milk intolerance (10%), suspected allergy or intolerance (27%) or personal choice (3%). When asked “Who advised you to remove cow's milk from your child's diet?” the majority responded that it was their own decision (35%), followed by GP advice (24%). The most common sources of nutrition information for parents of children that exclude cow's milk came from parenting webpages (21%), and social media (19%), whilst those on an unrestricted diet obtained information from health visitors (24%) and parenting webpages (19%). There were no differences in eating behaviours between children that excluded cow's milk and children that did not except for satiety responsiveness (p = 0.014), which was greater in the cow's milk exclusion group.

This preliminary data indicates that many parents exclude cow's milk from their child's diets based on their own advice. Where parents of children on an unrestricted diet sourced nutrition information from their health visitor, few parents of children who exclude cow's milk used this source of support (7%).

Specific nutritional requirements should be cover during childhood to ensure proper growth. The daily energy need is defined as the number of calories necessary to satisfy the total energy expenditure in a healthy and active organism. Since children are more inclined to be physically active during summer, their energy expenditure may vary during school days respect to summer days and a proper energy intake should be planned during both periods.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the energy balance during school days and summer camp days in primary school children living in the city of Parma (Italy), attending the Giocampus programme.

Participants were asked to complete a 3-day weighed food diary and to wear an activity tracker for the same 3 consecutive days twice: within a school week and a summer camp week. Height and body weight were measured at the beginning of each assessment week and BMI was calculated to define the weight status through the IOTF gender- and age-related cut-offs for children BMI. The mean energy balance was estimated as the difference between the mean total energy expenditure (calculated multiplying the daily physical activity level by the basal metabolic rate from the Schofield's predictive equation) and the mean daily energy intakes (obtained through the Italian food database of the European Institute of Oncology).

Fifty-five children (49% F, 51% M, 8–10 y) correctly completed the study. In both periods, the mean BMI corresponded to normal weight status, without significant differences between genders. Energy intake did not change significantly between the assessment periods or between sexes. As expected, the minutes of inactivity decreased during the summer camp period. Moreover, males were more active than females, but the increase in the total energy expenditure from school to summer camp, related to the increased physical activity, was significant in both sexes. Energy balance was negative in both assessment periods and it changed significantly from school to summer camp days, decreasing in both sexes but being more negative for boys than for girls.

Our results underline the importance of providing children with meals nutritionally adequate and suggest that the energy content of children's meals should be increased during particular conditions, like a summer camp, and continuously monitored to assure an adequate energy intake to cover the energy requirements during both school and summer camp days.

Gastric bypass surgery (GB) is a successful treatment for obesity(1). Following the procedure, patients report changes in preference away from palatable high fat (HF), high sugar (HS) foods that may contribute to weight loss(2). The aim of this work is to examine the relationship between changes in reported ‘liking’ (hedonic) and ‘wanting’(motivation) for HF, HS food and 24hr dietary intake post-GB. 15 GB patients (BMI: 41.7 ± 11.54kg/m2, 73% female) and 15 time-matched controls (BMI: 25.08 ± 4.37 kg/m2, 73% female) were recruited as part of a larger residential study and observed for 3 days at each of 3 time points; 1-month pre-surgery, 3-months post-surgery and 1 yr post-surgery. Covert, objective assessment of 24hr dietary intake was on day 2 of each visit using weighed food records. Participants had ad-libitum access to foods pre-determined by food preference questionnaires and proportionally represented by 6 macronutrient groups (HF/HS, HF/high CHO, HF/high protein, low fat/HS, low fat/high CHO, low fat/high protein). ‘Liking’ and ‘wanting’ was measured using the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ)(3), a validated measure that uses visual analogue scales to determine explicit liking and wanting for food. Implicit preferences are determined using response and reaction time in a forced-choice task. GB patients significantly reduced their overall energy intake (EI) from baseline to three months (-6.9 ± 8.1MJ/d p = > 0.001) and 1 yr post-surgery (-5.3 ± 7.5MJ/d, p = 0.01) compared to controls. At 3mths post-GB, there was no significant relationship between changes in preference for HS food and changes in %EI from sugar (R2 = 0.97, F(3,26) = 0.94 p = 0.44) or from HS foods (R2 = 0.87, F(3,26) = 0.83, p = 0.49). Changes in preferences for HF food at 3mths post-surgery were not significantly related to %EI from fat (R2 = 0.16, F(3,26) = 1.66, p = 0.2) or HF food (R2 = 0.18, F(3,26) = 0.16, p = 0.93). These associations remained at 1 yr post-surgery. In conclusion, previous observations based on self-reported food intake have found changes in preference for HF, HS food that may contribute to weight loss in GB. In contrast, our results show no significant relationship between changes in preference and changes in dietary intake post-surgery. Further research using direct, objective measures of dietary intake is needed to elucidate further changes in dietary intake post-GB.