Maternal feeding practices predict weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors in young children: a prospective study

Abstract

BackgroundMaternal feeding practices have been proposed to play an important role in early child weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors. However, to date longitudinal investigations in young children exploring these relationships have been lacking. The aim of the present study was to explore prospective relationships between maternal feeding practices, child weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors in 2-year-old children. The competing hypothesis that child eating behaviors predict changes in maternal feeding practices was also examined.MethodsA sample of 323 mother (mean age = 35 years, ± 0.37) and child dyads (mean age = 2.03 years, ± 0.37 at recruitment) were participants. Mothers completed a questionnaire assessing parental feeding practices and child eating behaviors at baseline and again one year later. Child BMI (predominantly objectively measured) was obtained at both time points.ResultsIncreases in child BMI z-scores over the follow-up period were predicted by maternal instrumental feeding practices. Furthermore, restriction, emotional feeding, encouragement to eat, weight-based restriction and fat restriction were associated prospectively with the development of obesogenic eating behaviors in children including emotional eating, tendency to overeat and food approach behaviors (such as enjoyment of food and good appetite). Maternal monitoring, however, predicted decreases in food approach eating behaviors. Partial support was also observed for child eating behaviors predicting maternal feeding practices.ConclusionsMaternal feeding practices play an important role in the development of weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors in young children and are potential targets for effective prevention interventions aiming to decrease child obesity.

The role of emotion regulation in childhood obesity: implications for prevention and treatment

“…Parents and family members influence children's food choices not only through food availability, eating patterns at home, and role modelling (108) , but also through other processes. Parental feeding practices could lead to unhealthy eating behaviours and childhood obesity (109,110) , since parents can pressure children to eat or restrict their diet or can use sweets as rewards or to change their temperament. Children also learn from their parents' behaviour, for example by using food to calm negative emotion.…”

Perceptions of parental pressure to eat and eating behaviours in preadolescents: The mediating role of anxiety

“…Children begin to have more control over decisions about food choices and food environments, and parents' control over feeding may change to reflect this during preadolescence. However, parents remain the primary providers of food until a child reaches adolescence (Savage et al, 2007), yet much of the previous research in this domain focusses on parental feeding practices with younger children (e.g., Rodgers et al, 2013;Scaglioni et al, 2008).…”

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

“…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). Available evidence suggests that childhood feeding experiences continue to adversely affect individuals' food preferences, dietary habits, and eating behaviors into adulthood (Batsell, Brown, Ansfield, & Paschall, 2002;Brunstrom, Mitchell, & Baguley, 2005;Wadhera, Capaldi Phillips, Wilkie, & Boggess, 2015).…”