How do parents' child-feeding behaviours influence child weight? Implications for childhood obesity policy

The prevalence of Down syndrome (DS) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is high in comparison to the global statistics. The aim of this study is to assess the physical status, feeding problems, parent-child feeding relationship and weight outcome in children and adolescents with DS in the UAE. In this cross-sectional study, 83 individuals aged between 2–19 years with DS were recruited from three humanitarian centres for differently abled in the Emirates of Sharjah and Dubai, UAE. Socio-demographic characteristics; height, weight, BMI and body composition; feeding problems (STEP-CHILD screening tool); and parent-child feeding relationship (child feeding questionnaire—CFQ) were assessed. Correlations and regression analyses were used to determine the relationships and the best predictor of weight outcome (BMI) in DS participants. The median age of the participants was 9 (8) years. Fifty-five (66.3%) males and twenty-eight (33.7%) females constituted a sex ratio of 1.96:1. Five (6.2%) participants were short for their age, and 20.6% were overweight/obese compared to the growth charts for DS population. Body composition of females showed significantly higher percent body fat than males (25.5 (14.3)% vs. 18.2 (4.0)%, p = 0.03; 29.9 (2.8)% vs. 16.3 (12.2)%, p = 0.006) in 5–8.99 years and 12–19.99 years, respectively. The most common feeding difficulties on STEP-CHILD tool were food selectivity (62.2%), continued eating in the presence of food (57.7%) and swallowing without sufficient chewing (50%). Median score of total-CFQ for the parent-child feeding behaviour was 3.2 (1.9); parental restriction 3.3 (1.0); pressure to eat 3.0 (0.8); concern about child weight 3.7 (2.3). Parent-child feeding relationship was significantly positively correlated with feeding problems, and body weight of the participants. The best predictor for BMI was the parental concern about child weight (OR: 1.4, p = 0.02). The findings can be valuable for the health care professionals, parents and caretakers of children and adolescents with DS in emphasizing the need for regular monitoring of their physical status, and feeding behaviours. In addition, it reinforces the role of parents in mindfully managing their child feeding relationship in promoting healthy eating behaviours and weight of their youth with DS.

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Systematic review: Symptoms of parental depression and anxiety and offspring overweight

Revista de Saúde Pública ◽

10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001731 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 49

Author(s):

Paula Lobo Marco ◽

Inaê Dutra Valério ◽

Christian Loret de Mola Zanatti ◽

Helen Gonçalves

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Childhood Obesity ◽

Mental Disorder ◽

Common Mental Disorder ◽

Positive Association ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Recurrent Depression ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Middle Income ◽

Symptoms Of Depression

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the existing literature on the association between parents’ depression and anxiety and their influence on their children’s weight during childhood, identifying possible mechanisms involved in this association. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in the PubMed, PsycINFO and SciELO databases, using the following descriptors: (maternal OR mother* OR parent* OR paternal OR father) AND (“common mental disorder” OR “mental health” OR “mental disorder” OR “depressive disorder” OR depress* OR anxiety OR “anxiety disorder”) AND (child* OR pediatric OR offspring) AND (overweight OR obes* OR “body mass index” OR BMI). A total of 1,187 articles were found after peer selection. RESULTS: In total, 16 articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected for the review. Most of them investigated depressive symptoms and only three, symptoms of maternal anxiety. The evaluated studies suggested a positive association between symptoms of maternal depression and higher risk of childhood obesity. The results diverged according to the chronicity of depressive symptoms (episodic or recurrent depression) and income of the investigated country (high or middle income). Mechanisms were identified passing by quality of parenthood, affecting behaviors related to physical activity and child-feeding, as mediators of the association. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude there is evidence of a positive relationship between the occurrence of maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety and childhood obesity. It is emphasized the need for a better understanding on the effect of depressive symptoms and the contextual factors involved in this relationship so that effective intervention strategies can be implemented.

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Obesity Policy Spotlight: The Political Feasibility of Solving Childhood Obesity

Bariatric Nursing and Surgical Patient Care ◽

10.1089/bar.2010.9909 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 249-253 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bobby Lowery

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

The Political ◽

Political Feasibility ◽

Obesity Policy

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Cultural Influences on Childhood Obesity in Ethnic Minorities: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Journal of Transcultural Nursing ◽

10.1177/1043659619869428 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 87-99 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rebecca E. Chatham ◽

Sandra J. Mixer

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Childhood Obesity ◽

Ethnic Minority ◽

Ethnic Minorities ◽

Minority Groups ◽

A Priori ◽

Cultural Influences ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Culture Care Theory

Introduction: Childhood obesity remains an unrelenting public health problem disproportionately affecting ethnic minorities. Although research has examined ethnicity as a factor of childhood obesity, few studies have examined cultural influences. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the qualitative evidence of cultural influences on childhood obesity in ethnic minority groups. Methodology: Selective sampling of studies since 2008 yielded 251 articles. Twelve articles that addressed cultural influences on childhood obesity were identified for review. The Culture Care Theory Sunrise Enabler factors were used as an a priori framework for theme coding. Results: Nine themes emerged: child feeding, family, gender roles, food, healthy child appearance, physical activity, sedentary activity, food cost, and obesogenic environment. Discussion: Cultural care practices such as traditional foods and family meals are protective factors in childhood obesity and should be encouraged by nurses caring for and working with ethnic minority populations.

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Childhood obesity: policy issues in 2003

Journal of Pediatric Nursing ◽

10.1016/s0882-5963(03)00164-7 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 416-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bryn Tschannen-Moran ◽

Eric Lewis ◽

Sarah P Farrell

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Policy Issues ◽

Obesity Policy

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Apocalyptic public health: exploring discourses of fatness in childhood ‘obesity’ policy

Journal of Education Policy ◽

10.1080/02680939.2019.1566839 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 3-22

Author(s):

Sarah Gillborn ◽

Bridgette Rickett ◽

Tom Muskett ◽

Maxine Woolhouse

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Childhood Obesity ◽

Obesity Policy

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Parental Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Child Weight Status among Toddlers Born Preterm

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0039-1683959 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (05) ◽

pp. 525-533

Author(s):

Jessica Londeree Saleska ◽

Kelly Sheppard ◽

Abigail Norris Turner ◽

Kelly M. Boone ◽

Sarah A. Keim

Keyword(s):

Weight Status ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Parental Perceptions ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Weight Estimation ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Actual Weight ◽

Child Weight ◽

Child’S Weight

Abstract Objective Childhood obesity is a significant determinant of adult obesity. Among children born preterm, rapid “catch-up growth” in infancy increases the risk of later obesity. Parental perceptions of their child's weight status may compound the child's biologically heightened risk of obesity. Study Design We performed a secondary analysis of data on parental perceptions of child weight status from a randomized controlled trial (2012–2017, n = 331 toddlers born preterm). We used the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) to measure parental child feeding behaviors and beliefs. We calculated the prevalence of incorrect weight estimation, and used t-tests and chi-square tests to compare sample characteristics by correct versus incorrect weight estimation. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for factors associated with parental underestimation of child weight status. Results Most (90%) children were of normal weight, whereas 3% were underweight and 7% were overweight. A majority (75%) of parents correctly estimated their child's weight status. Incorrect weight estimation was only associated with child's actual weight. Parents of overweight children were more likely to underestimate their child's weight status than parents of normal weight children (OR: 2.23, 95% confidence interval: 2.00–2.49). Mean CFQ scores differed by the child's actual weight status but not by the child's estimated weight status. Conclusion Among these toddlers born preterm, significantly higher proportions of parents with underweight and overweight children incorrectly estimated their child's weight status relative to parents of normal weight children. Our findings suggest that weight underestimation could be a problem in this population, although it was not associated with changes in feeding practices.

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Parental feeding style, energy intake and weight status in young Scottish children

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/bjn20061968 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 96 (6) ◽

pp. 1149-1153 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Colette Montgomery ◽

Diane M. Jackson ◽

Louise A. Kelly ◽

John J. Reilly

Keyword(s):

Energy Intake ◽

Weight Status ◽

Free Living ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Feeding Style ◽

Child Weight ◽

Child Feeding Questionnaire ◽

Parental Feeding ◽

The Usa ◽

Changes Over Time

Parental feeding style, as measured by the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ), may be an important influence on child feeding behaviour and weight status in early to mid childhood, but more evidence on parental feeding style is required from samples outside the USA. We aimed to use the CFQ in a sample of 117 Scottish children (boys n 53, girls n 64 mean age 4·6 (sd 0·5) years) to: characterise gender differences and changes over time (in forty of the 117 children studied over 2 years); test associations between parental feeding style, free-living energy intake (measured over 3 days using the multiple pass 24-h recall), and weight status (BMI sd score). No dimensions of parental feeding style changed significantly over 2 years in the longitudinal study (P>0·05 in all cases). No aspects of parental feeding style as measured by the CFQ differed significantly between the sexes (P>0·05 in all cases). Parental perceptions of child weight status were generally significantly positively correlated with child weight status as measured by the BMI sd score. In this sample and setting, measures of parental control over child feeding were generally not associated with child energy intake or weight status.

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