Children's eating behavior, feeding practices of parents and weight problems in early childhood: results from the population-based Generation R Study

Abstract

BackgroundWeight problems that arise in the first years of life tend to persist. Behavioral research in this period can provide information on the modifiable etiology of unhealthy weight. The present study aimed to replicate findings from previous small-scale studies by examining whether different aspects of preschooler’s eating behavior and parental feeding practices are associated with body mass index (BMI) and weight status -including underweight, overweight and obesity- in a population sample of preschool children.MethodsCross-sectional data on the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, Child Feeding Questionnaire and objectively measured BMI was available for 4987 four-year-olds participating in a population-based cohort in the Netherlands.ResultsThirteen percent of the preschoolers had underweight, 8% overweight, and 2% obesity. Higher levels of children’s Food Responsiveness, Enjoyment of Food and parental Restriction were associated with a higher mean BMI independent of measured confounders. Emotional Undereating, Satiety Responsiveness and Fussiness of children as well as parents’ Pressure to Eat were negatively related with children’s BMI. Similar trends were found with BMI categorized into underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity. Part of the association between children’s eating behaviors and BMI was accounted for by parental feeding practices (changes in effect estimates: 20-43%), while children’s eating behaviors in turn explained part of the relation between parental feeding and child BMI (changes in effect estimates: 33-47%).ConclusionsThis study provides important information by showing how young children’s eating behaviors and parental feeding patterns differ between children with normal weight, underweight and overweight. The high prevalence of under- and overweight among preschoolers suggest prevention interventions targeting unhealthy weights should start early in life. Although longitudinal studies are necessary to ascertain causal directions, efforts to prevent or treat unhealthy child weight might benefit from a focus on changing the behaviors of both children and their parents.

Saudi Arabian Mothers’ Child Feeding Practices, Autonomy, and Concern about Child Weight

“…Previous literature has identified negative outcomes of restrictive feeding practices: increasing the consumption of restricted foods, eating in the absence of hunger, and the high vulnerability of obesity [36][37][38][39]. Concerned mothers of overweight children are likely to use restrictive feeding practices with their child [17,33,39].…”

Role of food preoccupation and current dieting in the associations of parental feeding practices to emotional eating in young adults: A moderated mediation study

“…Feeding practices that reflect coercive control, such as pressuring children to eat, restricting children's access and consumption of unhealthy foods, and using food to influence children's behaviors or regulate their emotions, appear especially detrimental to the development of healthy eating patterns and weight (Lansigan, Emond, & Gilbert-Diamond, 2015;Shloim, Edelson, Martin, & Hetherington, 2015;Vaughn et al, 2016;Ventura & Birch, 2008). Cross-sectional and experimental studies have established associations between these feeding practices and increased child preference for restricted foods, heightened responsiveness to the presence of palatable foods, and eating beyond satiety when restricted foods are made available (Galloway, Fiorito, Francis, & Birch, 2006;Jansen et al, 2012). In longitudinal investigations, coercive control feeding practices have been shown to contribute to excessive weight gain (for restriction only) and problematic eating behaviors during childhood and adolescence (Birch, Fisher, & Davison, 2003;Houldcroft, Farrow, & Haycraft, 2016;Hughes, Power, O'Connor, Orlet Fisher, & Chen, 2016;Rodgers et al, 2013).…”

Perilaku makan berlebih dan hubungannya dengan kegemukan pada anak prasekolah

“…Untuk perilaku enjoyment of food, umumnya mulai meningkat di usia 12 bulan dan terjadi penurunan di usia 5-6 tahun (16,23,25). Berdasarkan beberapa penelitian, perbedaan perilaku makan setiap anak dipengaruhi oleh faktor genetik, perilaku pemberian makan, pola asuh, perilaku makan orangtua, dan lingkungan obesogenik (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31).…”

“…Faktor genetik diketahui dapat memengaruhi perilaku makan pada anak, khususnya gen FTO (Fat mass obesity) yang berperan dalam mengontrol asupan makanan dan pilihan makanan (16,24,31). Selain itu, perilaku orangtua juga dapat memengaruhi perilaku makan anak yaitu melalui perilaku pemberian makan, dan perilaku makan orangtua (27,28,30,(35)(36)(37)(38).…”