Parental beliefs about portion size, not children's own beliefs, predict child BMI

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundIncreases in portion size are thought by many to promote obesity in children. However, this relationship remains unclear. Here, we explore the extent to which a child's BMI is predicted both by parental beliefs about their child's ideal and maximum portion size and/or by the child's own beliefs.MethodsParent–child (5–11 years) dyads (N = 217) were recruited from a randomized controlled trial (n = 69) and an interactive science centre (n = 148). For a range of main meals, parents estimated their child's ‘ideal’ and ‘maximum tolerated’ portions. Children completed the same tasks.ResultsAn association was found between parents' beliefs about their child's ideal (β = .34, p < .001) and maximum tolerated (β = .30, p < .001) portions, and their child's BMI. By contrast, children's self‐reported ideal (β = .02, p = .718) and maximum tolerated (β = −.09, p = .214) portions did not predict their BMI. With increasing child BMI, parents' estimations aligned more closely with their child's own selected portions.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that when a parent selects a smaller portion for their child than their child self‐selects, then the child is less likely to be obese. Therefore, public health measures to prevent obesity might include instructions to parents on appropriate portions for young children.

Plating up appropriate portion sizes for children: a systematic review of parental food and beverage portioning practices

“…showed a positive correlation between the portion size a parent thought perfect for their child (aged 5–11 years) to eat for dinner and the portion size their child thought perfect for themselves ( r = 0.15, P < 0.05) . Equally, the maximum portion size a parent thought their child would eat for dinner correlated positively with the maximum portion size their child thought they would eat for dinner ( r = 0.22, P < 0.001) . Marx et al .…”

“…Ages of parents' children were younger in qualitative studies (1–5 years in 9/14, 5–13 in 3/14 and 2–12 in 1/14), compared with quantitative studies (2–6 years in 5/14 studies, 5–12 in 6/14 and 3–13 in 3/14). Most quantitative studies were observational (12/14) and used questionnaires , portion size estimation or portioning tasks , a home meal portioning observation or a computer‐assisted interview . Remaining quantitative studies (2/14) were experimental in design but reported data from baseline questionnaires .…”

“…Similarly, Potter et al . showed a parents' ideal portion size for their child correlated positively with parent body mass index (BMI) ( r = 0.22, P < 0.001) and child BMI percentile ( r = 0.39, P < 0.001) . In a buffet style meal serving task where mothers served themselves and their child a plate of food from the foods provided (e.g.…”

Biological and Psychosocial Processes in the Development of Children’s Appetitive Traits: Insights from Developmental Theory and Research

“…The role of parent as models would extend to the food environment of the home as well as their expression of conscious and unconscious beliefs and expectations about food and diet (the modeling scales developed by Palfreyman et al [ 150 ] show ways in which parents could provide models). The food environment includes the availability of energy-dense foods, the types and availability of snack foods, and portion sizes e.g., [ 151 , 152 ]. Parent and child disinhibited eating clearly is related to the family and wider social and psychological context.…”

Parental neglect of feeding in obese individuals

“…Studies on self regulation of the food by children have demonstrated that parenting practices of providing food based on environmental cues like time of dinner rather than the hunger itself affect child's self regulation ability. 38,39 As early as 3-5 years of age, children have shown little evidence of ability to adjust food intake in response to the altered energy density of food thus leading to increased amounts of intake. 40 Control of feeding practice has been credited to the findings that suggest that fathers may play a role in the control of feeding practices since daughters whose fathers were stricter on control of food had a higher percent of fat.…”