Predicting preschool children's eating in the absence of hunger from maternal pressure to eat: A longitudinal study of low-income, Latina mothers

Abstract

Early work by Klesges et al. (1983, 1986) suggested that mothers who frequently prompt their children to eat have children at greater risk for obesity. This is consistent with the hypothesis that controlling feeding practices override children's responsiveness to their internal fullness cues, increasing the risk of overeating and obesity (e.g., Johnson & Birch, 1994). Subsequent cross-sectional research on pressure to eat, however, has been inconsistent. Most studies have shown that maternal self-reports of pressure to eat are negatively associated with childhood obesity, and observational studies showed inconsistent relationships with child weight status. In the present study we examined the association between low-income, Latina mothers' pressure to eat and their preschool children's eating in the absence of hunger using both self-report and observational measures of feeding practices. A longitudinal design examined eating in the absence of hunger over 18 months; children's BMI at the initial timepoint was statistically controlled to address the tendency of mothers of underweight children to pressure their children to eat. At each timepoint, mothers completed the Child Feeding Questionnaire (Birch et al., 2001) and were observed feeding their child a meal in a laboratory setting. Eating in the absence of hunger (Fisher & Birch, 1999) was assessed at both timepoints as well. A cross-lagged panel model showed that observed maternal prompts to eat a different food at time one predicted kcal consumed in the absence of hunger at time two (controlling for kcal consumed in the absence of hunger at first timepoint: beta = 0.20, p < 0.05). Results suggest that pressure to eat alone may not be what contributes to eating in the absence of hunger, but that the nature of that pressure may be more important.

Controlling and less controlling feeding practices are differentially associated with child food intake and appetitive behaviors assessed in a school environment

“…However Restriction was associated with greater eating of snack foods in the absence of hunger in 7 and 9 year‐olds, 9 and in 3–5 year‐olds who were given unlimited access to snack foods in a laboratory setting following a snack restriction period 27 . While two studies found no association between Pressure to eat and eating in the absence of hunger as assessed at school 19 and in a laboratory setting 23 where no parent was present, one study found that higher scores were associated with greater consumption of snack foods in the absence of hunger among preschool‐aged boys in a home setting where the mother was present 28 . Finally, in classic observation studies, greater observed maternal prompting behaviors have been positively correlated with child eating rate , 12 and the mere presence of mothers during a laboratory eating test with greater eating rate in children with obesity 29 .…”

“…Birch and Deysher performed the first study of caloric compensation in young children 21 . Eating in the absence of hunger, a behavioral test first applied in children by Birch and team, assesses intake of palatable snack foods when given simultaneous access to desirable play activities shortly after eating to satiety, thus giving an indication of the extent to which external cues drive eating in the absence of physiologic hunger 9,22,23 . Eating rate is considered an additional indicator of satiety sensitivity and appetite avidity, with slower eating and deceleration through the meal thought to indicate a stronger response to internal satiety signals, and faster eating rate thought to indicate greater motivation to eat 24 …”

“…Potential sources of the variability observed in the results described above include the assessment of parent feeding practices, children's food intake and appetitive behaviors. For example, many studies, particularly those assessing associations with behavioral tests of child appetite, relied solely on sub‐scales from the CFQ which assesses Pressure to eat, Restriction and Monitoring, but does not assess the less controlling form of promoting consumption 23,28,30,31 . The vast majority of studies reporting on child diet have used parent‐report data (i.e.…”

Promoting Cardiovascular Health in Early Childhood and Transitions in Childhood through Adolescence: A Workshop Report

“…Research is needed on parenting behaviors that shape child development through multiple mechanisms, including parent-child attachment relationships to develop trust, executive function skills (eg, paying attention, maintaining focus, planning), 69,70 and emotional regulation (eg, calming down when upset). 71 Parental behaviors also shape earlyemerging child health behaviors, including sleep habits, both duration and timing 72 ; engagement in physical and sedentary activity 73 ; media use 74,75 ; and eating behaviors 76,77 (eg, consumption of fruits and vegetables or sugar-sweetened beverages). 78,79 Little is known about the impact of sleep and sleep disorders on central cardiovascular control.…”

An intervention based on self efficacy and parenting competence to help recovery childhood malnutrition

“…Health promotion, from the perspective of behavioral sciences implies having a correct perception of internal locus of control and self-efficacy, [11][12][13][14][15][16] as well as parental styles for establishing healthy habits. [16][17][18][19] These elements must be developed in the primary caregivers for the establishment of habits and prioritization of the healthy nutritional status of the children; they should be included in the educational interventions for the achievement of the parental competence for correct nourishing (PCCN). [16-18, 20, 21] Studies have found that increasing the perception of self-efficacy and development of parenting skills has a positive effect on nutritional recovery.…”