Abstract
BackgroundA better understanding of the link between eating behavior and maternal feeding practices with childhood and maternal weight status is of great interest.ObjectiveTo assess the association between childhood anthropometric measures with mothers' Body Mass Index (BMI) and their feeding practices toward preschool children in Chile.Methods1029 children (504 boys, 4.3 ± 0.3 years) and their mothers were selected from public nurseries located in low income neighborhoods in Santiago. Mothers' BMI, children's BMI and waist-to-height ratios were registered. Maternal feeding practices towards their children's nutritional habits were measured using an adapted version of the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ).ResultsWe found a direct correlation (p < 0.001) between children's BMI z-score and their mothers' BMI, both in boys (Spearman rho = 0.26) and girls (rho = 0.30). A direct association was also found between children's BMI z-score with scores of the subscale "concern for child's weight" (Spearman rho = 0.26 in boys and rho = 0.37 in girls; p < 0.001) and "food restriction" (rho = 0.19 in boys and rho = 0.27 in girls; p < 0.001). A reverse significant association was found between children's BMI z-score with scores of "pressure to eat" (rho = -0.30 in boys and rho = -0.36 in girls; p < 0.001). Analyses of the combined categories of childhood obesity and/or maternal obesity showed an important influence of children's weight status on CFQ scores.ConclusionMothers' BMI and children's BMI z-scores are highly correlated. We found significant associations between mothers' behaviour subscales and children's BMI z-score. It is not possible to establish a causal link between mother's CFQ scores and children's nutritional status, given the cross-sectional nature of this study and the bidirectional influences that exist between mothers and their children.
Highlights
A better understanding of the link between eating behavior and maternal feeding practices with childhood and maternal weight status is of great interest
The nutritional status of mothers was as follows: underweight (BMI < 18.5 Kg./m2), 0.78%; normal weight (18.5-24.9 Kg./m2), 38.9%; overweight (25.0-29.9 Kg./m2), 35.6%; and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 Kg./m2), 24.7%
No significant differences in anthropometric variables, age and Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) scores were found by gender, except for a higher height and Body Mass Index (BMI) in boys, with no significant differences in BMI z-scores
Summary
A better understanding of the link between eating behavior and maternal feeding practices with childhood and maternal weight status is of great interest. It is conceivable that attitudes and practices of many Chilean mothers on feeding and nutrition are somehow still dominated by a sense of protection against childhood undernutrition instead of the prevention of obesity. In this context, it is important to note that obesity is currently the most frequent nutritional disease in Chilean children, with a prevalence that has tripled over the past 15 years; it is currently 21% among 6 yearold children [3,4]. It is still difficult to define the best parental strategy in relation to childhood feeding, especially under the strong social influences that characterize the "obesogenic" environment
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