Family influence on the nutritional status and eating habits of six to nine year-old children

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether caregivers’ attitudes, beliefs, practices, alimentary habits, and nutritional status influence the alimentary habits and nutritional status of children aged six to nine years. Methods This cross-sectional study included 164 children and a family member (caregiver) each (n=164), carried out in the family health units of the municipality of Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil. Weight and height measurements were performed; each child was then evaluated by the application of both the Child Feeding Questionnaire and 24h recall (for calculating the Healthy Eating Index Revised), in addition to the assessment of adherence to healthy eating steps of the Ministry of Health, through a questionnaire. Results The results showed that the prevalence of being overweight was 18.3% in children and 32.9% in caregivers, and the prevalence of obesity was 15.9% and 37.9%, respectively. Most of the 56 children categorized as overweight also had overweight caregivers (82.1%; n=46). Concerns regarding children’s weight control were higher among caregivers responsible for overweight children (3.6±1.29). In contrast, caregivers responsible for children below or at normal weight demonstrated a greater tendency toward getting children to eat (3.3±0.97 and 3.9±0.99, respectively). The average score; of the children’s Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised (50.0±13.6) was similar to that of their caregivers (56.5±12.1). Conclusions Caregivers have a direct influence on the nutritional status and eating habits of children; therefore, they should be targeted in the processes of nutritional intervention for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

Transgenerational transmission of eating habits

“…However, a Brazilian cohort study published in 2018 indicated that the quality of the environment was more important than the frequency of shared meals. 12 This study also showed that parents with positive attitudes during meals provided more routine and consistency to children, ensuring a stable and supportive environment, which was related to a lower consumption of sweetened beverages and lower frequency of oppositional behavior. 12 Similarly, Coelho and Pires (2018) demonstrated that children who perceived a more supportive family environment felt more comfortable expressing their feelings and had greater control over their food intake and healthier eating patterns.…”

“…On the other hand, parents and the home environment play key roles in the child's feeding, nutrition, and development of eating habits, 5 , 11 choosing what is offered to them and providing examples of good eating habits. 5 , 12 Generally, the likelihood that a certain food will be offered is associated with the parents' tastes and preferences. 7 …”

Assessment of eating habits of preschool children and parent attitudes

“…Eating behavior is highly complex and affected by a variety of factors including physical environment, social environment and individual characteristics [1,[3][4][5][6]. Parents and caregivers have a significant impact on shaping children's eating behavior, particularly during toddlerhood and preschool age [1].…”

“…Parents and caregivers have a significant impact on shaping children's eating behavior, particularly during toddlerhood and preschool age [1]. They shape eating behaviors by providing access to foods and through their own eating styles, behavior during mealtimes, and child feeding practices [1,[4][5][6]. In a recent review, it was found that parents who adopt a moderate restriction approach, gradually decreasing and limiting unhealthy food items while offering positive messages and encouraging a variety of foods, may promote healthier dietary habits in their children.…”

“…The role of parents in shaping their children's food preferences and energy intake is wellestablished in the literature, with certain feeding practices having the potential to significantly impact children's eating behavior [1,3,[5][6]10]. Given the importance of parental influence on young children's eating habits, this study aimed to investigate the eating behavior of preschool children aged 3-6 years and explore parents' attitudes toward feeding.…”