Differential Maternal Feeding Practices, Eating Self-Regulation, and Adiposity in Young Twins

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Restrictive feeding is associated with childhood obesity; however, this could be due to other factors that drive children to overeat and parents to restrict (eg, child genetics). Using a twin design to better control for confounders, we tested differences in restrictive feeding within families in relation to differences in twins’ self-regulatory eating and weight status. METHODS: Sixty-four same-gender twin pairs (4–7 years old) were studied with their mothers. Child caloric compensation ability (COMPX% index) was assessed by using a laboratory-based protocol. The Child Feeding Questionnaire assessed mothers’ self-reported feeding styles toward each twin. Child BMI (kg/m2) and BMI z score were calculated by using measured weight and height; percent body fat and waist circumference were also assessed. Partial correlations examined within-twin pair differences in Child Feeding Questionnaire subscales in relation to within-twin pair differences in anthropometry and caloric compensation (COMPX%). RESULTS: Differences in maternal restriction were significantly associated with within-pair differences in child COMPX% and BMI z score. Mothers reported more restriction toward the heavier and more poorly compensating twin. Additionally, within-pair differences in parental pressure to eat were associated with significant differences in BMI z score, percent body fat, and waist circumference. Mothers were more pressuring toward the lighter twin. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers vary in their feeding practices, even among same-gender twin pairs, which might influence differences in adiposity. Future research needs to elucidate cause-and-effect and intervention implications regarding parental restriction and pressure-to-eat prompts.

A biopsychosocial approach to processes and pathways in the development of overweight and obesity in childhood: Insights from developmental theory and research

“…For example, Faith et al found that for children classified as predisposed to obesity based on maternal weight, elevated child weight tended to elicit restrictive feeding practices which they argued “may exacerbate child weight control problems” (p. 435) by “disrupting the children's eating patterns” (p. 435) such as through increased eating in the absence of hunger or interference with children's self‐control over intake. Similar conclusions about the effects of restrictive or nonresponsive feeding practices are frequent . The research, however, does not yet seem to have been extended longitudinally to consider transactional processes such as whether or how disrupted eating patterns might influence parents' feeding practices over time.…”

“…Additionally, instead of bidirectional processes or parent influence processes, other research points to mechanisms where parents respond to the child's weight, so that feeding practices are in response to the parent's concerns about the child's BMI or appetite, rather than BMI being influenced by feeding practices. 272,[283][284][285][286][287] Finally, there are findings of no evidence linking BMI/weight with parent feeding practices. 288,289 When authors have attempted to integrate the mixed set of findings about links between parenting and children's weight, 271 they generally fail to find systematic patterns.…”

“…325 In relation to children's eating and weight, early research by Birch and Fisher, 18 Faith et al, 277 and Agras et al 30 conclusions about the effects of restrictive or nonresponsive feeding practices are frequent. 195,281,285,[326][327][328] The research, however, does not yet seem to have been extended longitudinally to consider transactional processes such as whether or how disrupted eating patterns might influence parents' feeding practices over time.…”

Relationship between food insecurity, child weight status, and parent‐reported child eating and snacking behaviors

“…This finding is in agreement with a recent cross-sectional study in adolescents and their mothers which also showed that mothers with very low food security were more likely to be concerned about their sons’ weight and were more likely to frequently use restrictive feeding practices with their daughters compared to food-secure mothers (Bauer et al, 2015). Restrictive feeding practices have been shown to be associated with overeating in children, such as EAH (Fisher & Birch, 2002; Liang et al, 2016; Reina et al, 2013), impaired caloric compensation (Tripicchio et al, 2014), increased energy intake (Rollins, Savage, Fisher, & Birch, 2016), and increased child weight status (Dev, McBride, Fiese, Jones, & Cho, 2013; Dinkevich et al, 2015). It remains unclear if mothers use restriction as an effort to control child’s weight or if unreliable access to food may prompt mother to ration or limit access to food to make it last longer.…”

Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of a Brazilian Version of the Child Feeding Questionnaire

“…These researches show that factors of family influence evaluated through the CFQ may have effects on food acceptance patterns, the development of food preferences and the self-regulation of food intake pattern by children (Tan & Holub, 2011;Tripicchio et al, 2014). Thus, the social context can intensify children's preferences for foods high in fat, sugar and salt or even foods low calorie and low nutritional value and, consequently, to develop a dislike for nutritious foods important for the health and growth in childhood, characterizing the effects of family setting on feeding children and on childhood obesity proneness or other diseases associated with poor eating habits (Faith, Carnell, & Kral, 2013).…”