Parental feeding practices and child weight status in Mexican American families: a longitudinal analysis

Abstract

BackgroundParental feeding practices are thought to influence children’s weight status, through children’s eating behavior and nutritional intake. However, because most studies have been cross-sectional, the direction of influence is unclear. Moreover, although obesity rates are high among Latino children, few studies of parental feeding practices have focused on this population.MethodsThis 2-year longitudinal study examined mutual influences over time between parental feeding practices and children’s weight status, in Mexican American families with children 18 years old at baseline. Mothers (n = 322) and fathers (n = 182) reported on their feeding practices at baseline, 1-year follow-up, and 2-year follow-up. Weight status, defined by waist-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI), was ascertained at all assessments. Cross-lagged panel models were used to examine the mutual influences of parental feeding practices and child weight status over time, controlling for covariates.ResultsBoth mothers’ and fathers’ restriction of food predicted higher subsequent child weight status at Year 1, and for fathers this effect was also found at Year 2. Mothers’ and fathers’ pressure to eat predicted lower weight status among boys, but not girls, at Year 1. Child weight status also predicted some parental feeding practices: boys’ heavier weight predicted mothers’ less pressure to eat at Year 1, less use of food to control behavior at Year 2, and greater restriction at Year 2; and girls’ heavier weight at Year 1 predicted fathers’ less pressure to eat and less positive involvement in child eating at Year 2.ConclusionsThis study provides longitudinal evidence that some parental feeding practices influence Mexican American children’s weight status, and that children’s weight status also influences some parental feeding practices. Feeding practices of both mothers and fathers were related to children’s weight status, underscoring the importance of including fathers in research on parental feeding practices and child obesity.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0224-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fathers' feeding practices and children's weight status in Mexican American families

“…Fathers’ restriction of food has also been associated with increased weight status in longitudinal research (Tschann et al, 2015). This PFP, which is controlling, may shift children’s focus to restricted foods and may result in their overconsumption when food is freely available, and lead to obesity.…”

“…Fathers’ pressure to eat has also been associated with lower children’s weight status in longitudinal research (Tschann et al, 2015). It may be that children who are pressured to eat consume less food and weigh less, the opposite of parents’ desires, because food becomes less desirable to them when associated with parental cues for food and not their own.…”

“…While studies have begun to address the causal direction of PFP and children’s weight status among mothers (Afonso et al, 2016; Campbell et al, 2010; Jansen et al, 2014; Rhee et al, 2009; Tschann et al, 2015; Webber, Cooke, Hill, & Wardle, 2010), very little research has addressed this question for fathers. Understanding the causal direction of these relationships among parents would help expand our understanding of the role that PFP play in keeping children at a healthy weight.…”

African-American and Hispanic children's beverage intake: Differences in associations with desire to drink, fathers' feeding practices, and weight concerns

“…With the exception of three studies that report associations of fathers feeding practices with child’s food or beverage intake or weight status in African-American (Harris & Ramsey, 2015) and Mexican (Tschann et al, 2013; Tschann et al, 2015) dyads, most literature examining fathers’ feeding practices and child health outcomes used predominantly White samples (E. Haycraft & Blissett, 2008a; E.…”

“…In a sample of Mexican parents of 8-to-10-year-old children, mothers’ and fathers’ positive involvement in child eating, pressure to eat, and restriction were significantly associated with child BMI; however, use of food to control behavior was negatively associated with child BMI only when reported by fathers (Tschann et al, 2013). In a two-year longitudinal study that assessed parental feeding practices in Mexican parents of 8-10 year-old children, restriction of food by both parents predicted higher child weight from baseline to12 months later; however, at 24 months into the study, only fathers’ food restriction predicted high child weight (Tschann et al, 2015). Thus, fathers’ influence may promote child healthy eating (e.g., in modeling) or increase unhealthy eating (e.g., in restriction) and the unhealthy influence may be particularly problematic for children’s intake of high caloric foods or beverages.…”