Abstract
Parental feeding practices have been associated with children’s dietary intakes, yet the directionality of these associations remains unclear. Among 1172 mother-child pairs from Project Viva, we aimed to examine associations of parental concerns and feeding behaviors at 2 years (behaviors dichotomized as yes vs. no), with diet quality (Youth Healthy Eating Index; YHEI) in early (mean 3.2, SD 0.3 years; n = 1076) and mid-childhood (mean 7.8, SD 0.7 years; n = 993). We used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, parental body mass index (BMI), maternal diet quality in pregnancy, and child’s BMI z-score and diet quality at 2 years. Early parental concerns about their child becoming overweight (15%) was associated with lower YHEI (β −1.54 points; 95%CI −2.75, −0.33; fully adjusted model) in early childhood. Early parental concerns about their child becoming underweight (7%) was associated with lower YHEI (−2.19 points; −4.31, −0.07) in early childhood, but the association was attenuated after adjustment for child’s BMI z-score and diet quality at 2 years. We did not find associations of parental restrictive feeding (8%) and parental pressure to eat (47%) with child’s YHEI through mid-childhood. In conclusion, we found no evidence that early parental concerns and feeding behaviors independently contribute to child’s diet quality through childhood.
Highlights
Healthy eating during childhood is crucial to ensure proper growth and development, and to maintain a healthy body weight and optimal health across the lifespan [1]
Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and child’s BMI at 2 years were associated with both parental feeding behaviors and weight-related concerns, and child’s race/ethnicity was associated with both feeding behaviors as well as concerns about the child becoming underweight
In our sensitivity analysis with a more stringent categorization of parental pressure to eat, the association with YHEI total score in mid-childhood was largely attenuated as compared to early childhood and no longer significant, and we found an association with fast food intake in mid-childhood (β 0.20 serving/day; 95%CI 0.04, 0.36; fully adjusted model)
Summary
Healthy eating during childhood is crucial to ensure proper growth and development, and to maintain a healthy body weight and optimal health across the lifespan [1]. Dietary indices have been developed to assess and monitor dietary quality in populations. The Healthy Eating Index was developed by the United States (US) Department of Agriculture (USDA) to monitor changes in dietary intake over time in the US population [3], and this score has been adapted for children (Youth Healthy Eating Index; YHEI) [4]. In the US, dietary quality in children and adolescents has been improving through recent decades [5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
