scholarly journals A Biopsychosocial Model of Sex Differences in Children’s Eating Behaviors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen L. Keller ◽  
Samantha M. R. Kling ◽  
Bari Fuchs ◽  
Alaina L. Pearce ◽  
Nicole A. Reigh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Food Cues ◽  
Taste Response ◽  
Parental Feeding ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

The prevalence of obesity and eating disorders varies by sex, but the extent to which sex influences eating behaviors, especially in childhood, has received less attention. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on sex differences in eating behavior in children and present new findings supporting the role of sex in child appetitive traits and neural responses to food cues. In children, the literature shows sex differences in basic taste response, food acceptance, eating self-regulation, and appetitive traits. New analyses demonstrate that sex interacts with child weight status to differentially influence appetitive traits and neural responses to food cues. Further, neuroimaging results suggest that obesity in female children is positively related to brain reactivity to higher-energy-dense food cues in regions involved with learning, memory, and object recognition, while the opposite was found in males. In addition to differences in how the brain processes information about food, other factors that may contribute to sex differences include parental feeding practices, societal emphasis on dieting, and peer influences. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings, as they may have implications for the development of effective intervention programs to improve dietary behaviors and prevent obesity.

scholarly journals A Biopsychosocial Model of Sex Differences in Children’s Eating Behaviors

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Keller ◽  
Samantha Kling ◽  
Bari Fuchs ◽  
Alaina Pearce ◽  
Nicole Reigh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Food Cues ◽  
Contextual Processing ◽  
Parental Feeding Practices ◽  
Parental Feeding ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Neural Reactivity

The prevalence of obesity and eating disorders varies by sex, but the extent to which sex influences eating behaviors, especially in childhood, has received less attention. The purpose of this paper is to critically discuss the literature on sex differences in eating behavior in children and present new findings supporting the role of sex in child appetitive traits and neural responses to food cues. In children, the literature shows sex differences in food acceptance, food intake, appetitive traits, eating-related compensation, and eating speed. New analyses demonstrate that sex interacts with child weight status to differentially influence appetitive traits. Further, results from neuroimaging suggest that obesity in female children is positively related to neural reactivity to higher-energy-dense food cues in regions involved with contextual processing and object recognition, while the opposite was found in males. In addition to differences in how the brain processes information about food, other factors that may contribute to sex differences include parental feeding practices, societal emphasis on dieting, and peer influences. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings, as they may have implications for the development of effective intervention programs to improve dietary behaviors and prevent obesity.

scholarly journals Infant feeding practices and prevalence of obesity in eight European countries – the IDEFICS study

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Hunsberger ◽  
Anne Lanfer ◽  
Anna Reeske ◽  
Toomas Veidebaum ◽  
Paola Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exclusive Breast Feeding ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Maternal Overweight

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the association between exclusive breast-feeding and childhood overweight.DesignCross-sectional data are from the baseline survey of the longitudinal cohort study IDEFICS. Exclusive rather than partial breast-feeding is the focus of the study due to the theoretical relationship between exclusive breast-feeding and development of dietary self-regulation. Children's measured heights and weights were used to calculate weight status, while waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) and skinfold measures were examined as alternative indicators of adiposity and fat patterning.SettingExamination centres in eight European countries (Italy, Estonia, Cyprus, Belgium, Sweden, Hungary, Germany and Spain).SubjectsThe analysis included 14 726 children aged 2–9 years for whom early feeding practices were reported by parents in standardized questionnaires.ResultsAfter controlling for education, income and other potential confounders, breast-feeding exclusively for 4–6 months was protective of overweight (including obesity) when compared with children never exclusively breast-fed (OR = 0·73; 95 % CI 0·63, 0·85) across all measures of overweight. Exclusively breast-feeding for 6 months offered slightly more protection than for 4 and 5 months combined (OR = 0·71; 95 % CI 0·58, 0·85). The associations could not be explained by socio-economic characteristics or maternal overweight.ConclusionsThis multi-country investigation indicated that exclusive breast-feeding for 4–6 months may confer protection against overweight in addition to other known benefits. There was no demonstrated benefit of exclusive breast-feeding for more than 6 months or combination feeding for any duration across all measures of overweight examined.

scholarly journals Relationship between Parental Feeding Practices and Neural Responses to Food Cues in Adolescents

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e0157037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harriet A. Allen ◽  
Alison Chambers ◽  
Jacqueline Blissett ◽  
Magdalena Chechlacz ◽  
Timothy Barrett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Food Cues ◽  
Parental Feeding Practices ◽  
Parental Feeding

scholarly journals Longitudinal Associations between Emotion Regulation and Adiposity in Late Adolescence: Indirect Effects through Eating Behaviors

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Shriver ◽  
Jessica Dollar ◽  
Meg Lawless ◽  
Susan Calkins ◽  
Susan Keane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Emotional Eating ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Dietary Restraint ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Body Composition Assessment ◽  
Unhealthy Eating ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

The prevalence of obesity among U.S. youth continues to increase, with many adolescents engaging in unhealthy eating behaviors. Increasingly, research points to the role of self-regulation in obesity development, yet existing work has largely focused on young children and/or clinical adult populations. This multi-method longitudinal study (N = 153) utilized a path analysis to delineate links between emotion regulation (age 15), emotional eating and dietary restraint (age 16), and adiposity (% body fat) using a BodPod for body composition assessment (age 19). Emotion regulation was negatively associated with emotional eating (β = −0.30, p < 0.001) and positively associated with dietary restraint (β = 0.15, p < 0.05) at age 16, but was not associated with age 19 adiposity (β = −0.01, p = ns). Emotional eating was positively associated with adiposity (β = 0.24, p < 0.01). Indirect effects suggested that emotional eating, but not dietary restraint, at age 16 serves as a mechanism that helps explain the associations between emotion regulation and adiposity four years later. Results from this study suggest that both emotion regulation and emotional eating represent promising targets for that should be included in future interventions aimed at preventing adolescent obesity.

scholarly journals Maternal feeding style and child weight status among Hispanic families with low-income levels: a longitudinal study of the direction of effects

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheryl O. Hughes ◽  
Thomas G. Power ◽  
Teresia M. O’Connor ◽  
Jennifer O. Fisher ◽  
Nilda E. Micheli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Status ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Feeding Styles ◽  
Feeding Style ◽  
Child Weight ◽  
Parental Feeding ◽  
Direction Of Effects ◽  
Child Eating ◽  
Child Eating Behaviors ◽  
Child Bmi

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.

scholarly journals Parental feeding practice is associated with child’s body mass index in Thai school-aged children

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uruwan Yamborisut ◽  
Piyanuch Visetchart ◽  
Wiyada Thasanasuwan ◽  
Weerachat Srichan ◽  
Rittirong Unjana
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Feeding Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parental Feeding

Purpose Parental feeding practice (PFP) plays an important role in child’s eating behavior and weight status, but less information is available about its role in the Thai family setting. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of PFP on child’s gender and body mass index (BMI). Design/methodology/approach Participants included 227 parents-child dyads from the suburban area of Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand. Children aged 9-12 years and parents who were either child’s mother, father or grandfather/grandmother were enrolled in the study. Body weight, height, waist circumference and body fat were measured in all children. Eating behavior of each child was assessed by using child’s eating questionnaire. Parents also provided their feeding practices in child feeding questionnaires. Information on household food security was also obtained from children’s parents. Findings There was significant difference in eating behaviors and home environment between child’s genders. For child’s eating behavior, mean total eating scores of girls were significantly greater (p=0.002) than that of boys and that the inappropriate home environment was more found in families of boys than girls. Regarding feeding practice, parents used more food restriction (p=0.008) and monitoring on child’s eating (p=0.042) in girls than boys. Parents put more pressure to eat on the normal weight than obese children (p=0.001). Regression analysis revealed that, apart from parental BMI and household income, PFPs have a significant impact (15.6 percent explained variance) on child’s BMI. Originality/value This study highlights the importance of being aware of child’s gender and weight status when feeding practices were provided to them. Nutrition education for parents should take account for parents’ perceptions and concerns as well as the modification of feeding practices to improve children’s eating behaviors.

Associations Between Parent–Child Communication and Connectedness, Parent Feeding Behavior, and Child Body Mass in Pre-Adolescent Children

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina D Lowe ◽  
Mark A Lott ◽  
Chad D Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Feeding Behaviors ◽  
Parent Child Communication ◽  
Parental Feeding ◽  
Parent Feeding ◽  
Parent Child

Abstract Objective  This study evaluated associations between parent–child connectedness and communication, parent feeding behaviors (restriction, pressure to eat, and monitoring), and age- and sex-standardized child body mass index (zBMI) in a sample of pre-adolescent children aged 8–12 years. Methods  A community sample of three hundred and eight child–parent dyads completed measures of communication and connectedness. Parents completed a feeding behavior measure and children were weighed and their height was measured. We examined whether parental feeding behaviors and parent–child communication and connectedness predicted child zBMI and whether parental feeding behaviors moderated the association between parent–child communication and connectedness and child zBMI. Results  Feeding restriction was positively associated with zBMI, while both pressure to eat and food monitoring exhibited negative associations with zBMI. Child-reported communication was inversely associated with zBMI and parental pressure to eat moderated this association such that lower pressure to eat predicted a stronger association between communication and zBMI. Conclusions  These findings are consistent with previous research suggesting that parent feeding strategies and parent–child communication are important contributors to child weight status. This study also provides preliminary evidence suggesting that adaptive parent–child communication is associated with lower body mass when parents avoid pressuring their child to eat. Our study provides an important extension of this body of research into middle childhood, a relatively understudied developmental stage.

Child weight and parental feeding practices: a child-responsive model

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Lind Melbye ◽  
Håvard Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Weight Status ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Mediating Effects ◽  
Parental Concern ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parental Feeding Practices ◽  
Child Weight ◽  
Parental Feeding ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose – The majority of previous studies on parental feeding practices have focused on the effect of controlling feeding strategies on child eating and weight (i.e. parental influence on children). The present study turns the arrow in the opposite direction, and it aims to test a child-responsive model by exploring the process in which child weight status might influence parental feeding practices, addressing potential mediating effects of parental concern for child weight (i.e. child influence on parents). Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey was performed among parents of 10- to 12-year olds (n = 963). The survey questionnaire included measures of parental feeding practices and parents’ reports of child weight and height. Stepwise regressions were performed to reveal potential mediating effects of parental concern for child weight status on the associations between child BMI and a wide range of parental feeding practices. Findings – Our results suggest a mediating effect of parental concern for child overweight on the associations between child body mass index and controlling feeding practices such as restriction for weight and health purposes and responsibility for determining child portion sizes. Originality/value – This study provides an extension of previous research on parental feeding–child weight relationship. It includes a wider spectrum of feeding variables, and integrates parental concern for both child who is overweight and child who is underweight as potential mediators of the associations between child weight and parental feeding practices. Moreover, it has its focus on preadolescent children, while previous studies have focused on infants and young children.

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