Association between Parents' Perceptions of Preschool Children's Weight, Feeding Practices and Children's Dietary Patterns: A Cross-Sectional Study in China.

Caihong Xiang,Yue Xi,Youjie Zhang,Zhiqian Jiang,Hanshuang Zou,Jiaqi Huo,Cuiting Yong,Qian Lin,Jiajing Liang

doi:10.3390/nu13113767

Caihong Xiang, Yue Xi + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113767

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Abstract

Parental perception of children’s weight may influence parents’ feeding practices, and in turn, child dietary intake and weight status; however, there is limited evidence generated for preschoolers. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate associations between Chinese parents’ perceptions of child weight, feeding practices and preschoolers’ dietary patterns. Participants (1616 parent-child pairs) were recruited from six kindergartens in Hunan, China. Parents’ misperception, concern, and dissatisfaction on child weight were collected through a self-administered caregiver questionnaire. Parental feeding practices and children’s dietary intake were, respectively, assessed using the Child Feeding Questionnaire and a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Linear regression models were applied to analyze associations between parental weight perceptions, feeding practices, and preschooler’s dietary patterns. Associations between parents’ weight perceptions and dietary patterns were significant only among underweight children. Regardless of child weight status, parental weight underestimation and preference for a heavier child were positively associated with pressure-to-eat. Parental weight concern was positively associated with restriction in normal weight child, but this was not found in other weight groups. In conclusion, Parents’ misperception, concern, and dissatisfaction about child weight are associated with parents’ feeding practices and may influence preschoolers’ dietary quality, but the relationships vary by children’s actual weight status.

Highlights

The prevalence of obesity in preschool children has increased sharply, and it has become a major global public health issue [1]
The dietary pattern characterized by sugary drinks, savory snacks, and fast foods has become prevalent among Chinese preschoolers, which is associated with a higher risk of adiposity as compared to the traditional dietary pattern [10]
Our results suggest that parental weight perceptions are directly associated with dietary patterns only in children with underweight, but parental perceptions could affect feeding practices, and in turn, children’s diet

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of obesity in preschool children has increased sharply, and it has become a major global public health issue [1]. Control and Prevention shows that the obesity rate in Chinese children under 7 years old has increased from 0.9% to 8.4% from 1985 to 2015 [2,3]. Childhood obesity increases the risk of obesity later in life [4], it increases the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes [5,6]. Eating occasions and energy intake from snacks has increased significantly among Chinese preschoolers [9]. The dietary pattern characterized by sugary drinks, savory snacks, and fast foods has become prevalent among Chinese preschoolers, which is associated with a higher risk of adiposity as compared to the traditional dietary pattern [10]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion