Maternal Feeding Strategies, Child Eating Behaviors, and Child BMI in Low-Income African-American Preschoolers*

Abstract Background The home environment is a central and modifiable influence on the development of childhood obesity. Evidence supports the central role of parents in shaping problematic child eating behaviors and excess weight. Most studies of feeding emphasize parent-driven influences without taking into account the child’s role in eating interactions. Few studies have addressed the bi-directional nature of feeding dynamics in studies of young children. Methods The goals of this study were: 1) to examine if parental feeding styles during preschool (4–5 years) predict child weight status at 7–9 years, and 2) to examine the direction of effects between parental feeding styles and child weight status over time. Participants were part of a larger longitudinal study of Hispanic Head Start families living in the West South Central United States. Data from mother/child dyads were collected at three time points: Time 1 (ages 4–5), Time 2 (ages 5 ½-6 ½), and at Time 3 (ages 7–9). Only data from the Times 1 and 3 were used in the current analyses. A total of 128 mothers and their children had data on all variables needed for the analyses. Assessments included parent-reported feeding styles, feeding practices, acculturation, child eating behaviors, and child height and weight. Hierarchical regression was used to examine the first aim; a cross-lagged panel analysis examined the second aim. Results An indulgent parental feeding style at ages 4–5 was associated with increased child BMI z-score at ages 7–9. Indulgent feeding significantly contributed to child BMI z-score beyond demographics, baseline child BMI z-score, parental acculturation, and child eating behaviors. Regarding the direction of effects in parental feeding interactions, the cross-lagged analyses showed that both indulgent feeding style and authoritative feeding style at Time 1 positively predicted child BMI z-scores at Time 3. Child effects were significant as well. Child BMI z-score at Time 1 positively predicted indulgent feeding and negatively predicted authoritarian feeding at Time 3. Conclusions Indulgent feeding should be addressed in future family-focused childhood obesity initiatives focused on young children and their parents.

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Time for Lunch: The Impact of Lunch Time Constraints on Child Eating Behaviors

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04191291 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Eating Behaviors ◽

Time Constraints ◽

Child Eating ◽

Child Eating Behaviors ◽

The Impact ◽

Lunch Time

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Effect of Family-Based REDUCE Intervention Program on Children Eating Behavior and Dietary Intake: Randomized Controlled Field Trial

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12103065 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 3065

Author(s):

Norliza Ahmad ◽

Zalilah Mohd Shariff ◽

Firdaus Mukhtar ◽

Munn-Sann Lye

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Dietary Intake ◽

Eating Behavior ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Child Eating ◽

Family Based ◽

Child Eating Behaviors ◽

Randomized Controlled Field Trial

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a family-based intervention program (REDUCE) on children’s eating behaviors and dietary intake. A two-arm randomized controlled field trial was conducted among parents and children of 7 to 10 years old who were either overweight or obese. The intervention was conducted via face-to-face sessions and social media. The child eating behaviors were assessed using the child eating behaviors questionnaire (CEBQ), while their dietary consumption of vegetables and unhealthy snacks was assessed using a parental report of three days unweighted food. The generalized linear mixed modelling adjusted for covariates was used to estimate the intervention effects with alpha of 0.05. A total of 122 parents (91% response rate) completed this study. At the six-month post-training, there were statistically significant mean differences in the enjoyment of food (F(6481) = 4.653, p < 0.001), fruit and vegetable intake (F(6480) = 4.165, p < 0.001) and unhealthy snack intake (F(6480) = 5.062, p < 0.001) between the intervention and wait-list groups; however, it was not clinically meaningful. This study added to the body of knowledge of family-based intervention that utilized social media and assessed the effect in children’s eating behavior using the CEBQ and children’s dietary intake.

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The Relationship between Household SNAP Participation, Parent Feeding Styles, and Child Eating Behaviors

Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition ◽

10.1080/19320248.2021.1994506 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Megan O. Bensignor ◽

Rebecca L. Freese ◽

Nancy E. Sherwood ◽

Jerica M. Berge ◽

Alicia Kunin-Batson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Behaviors ◽

Feeding Styles ◽

Child Eating ◽

Child Eating Behaviors ◽

Parent Feeding ◽

The Relationship

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Associations of parents' self, child, and other “fat talk” with child eating behaviors and weight

International Journal of Eating Disorders ◽

10.1002/eat.22858 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 (6) ◽

pp. 527-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Janet A. Lydecker ◽

Kristen E. Riley ◽

Carlos M. Grilo

Keyword(s):

Eating Behaviors ◽

Fat Talk ◽

Child Eating ◽

Child Eating Behaviors

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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Diet Quality and Eating Habits Among WIC Pregnant Women: Implications for Policy and Practice

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/0890117119883584 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 169-176 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alla M. Hill ◽

Danielle L. Nunnery ◽

Alice Ammerman ◽

Jigna M. Dharod

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

African American Women ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Low Income ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

American Women

Purpose: One of the major federal food assistance programs, the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), serves approximately 1.5 million low-income pregnant women per year; however, limited information is available on their dietary habits. This is critical because low-income women are at higher risk of gaining excess weight during pregnancy. Thus, the study objectives were to (1) determine the overall diet quality of WIC pregnant women and (2) examine diet quality and eating behaviors by race/ethnicity and other sociodemographics. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Setting: One of the 3 WIC offices in a north-central county in North Carolina, USA. Sample: Pregnant women (n = 198) in the second trimester. Measures: Interviews included sociodemographics, food security, diet, and eating behaviors. Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010 scores. Analysis: Descriptives, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis. Results: Average participant age was 26 years, and the mean HEI-2010 score was 56 of maximum score of 100. Specifically, African American women consumed significantly lower servings of whole grains (β = −1.71; 95% CI: −3.10 to −0.32; P < .05) and dairy (β = −1.42; 95% CI: −2.51 to −0.33; P < .05) compared with non-Hispanic white women. Hispanic women scored higher in daily intake of fruits (β = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.17-1.79; P < .05) and for consuming empty calories in moderation (β = 1.57; 95% CI: 0.06-3.09; P < .05). Frequency of intake of fast foods/outside meals was higher among African American women (57%, P = .025). Conclusion: Efforts are warranted to promote optimal nutrition among WIC pregnant women. Specifically, African American women are highly vulnerable to poor dietary habits during pregnancy. Further investigation of barriers/facilitators for healthy eating is necessary to address nutrition disparities among WIC pregnant women.

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