Modeling healthful eating: Links to parenting styles versus feeding practices differ as a function of child BMI

Abstract

This study compared predictors of parental modeling of healthful eating for preschool children with BMI < 50th versus BMI = 75th percentile, because this difference is linked to a six fold increase in later overweight. Participants were 131 3‐ to 4‐year‐old children with BMI measured in fall and spring. 53% had average BMI =75th percentile and 24% had average BMI < 50th percentile. Three parental styles ‐ authoritarian, authoritative, permissive ‐ and four feeding practices ‐ model, discourage, plan, external focus ‐‐ were measured. For children with BMI = 75th percentile, regression analyses showed parenting practices did not but feeding practices did predict modeling of healthful eating (R2 = .15, p=.016). For children with BMI < 50th percentile, regression analyses showed parental styles, particularly authoritative, predicted parental modeling of healthful eating behavior (R2 = .45, p =. 001) but feeding practices did not. Findings suggest nutrition educators working with families of heavier children could teach parental feeding practices to increase modeling. But, additional research should first investigate whether the authoritative practices of parents of normal weight children would enhance the healthful eating of heavier children. Funding: USDA‐CREES Number OKL0 2605.