Abstract
BackgroundChile has experienced the nutritional transition due to both social and economic progress. As a consequence, higher rates of overweight and obesity have been observed in children. In western countries, researchers have tried to determine pathways by which parents influence their children's eating behavior; up to now findings have been inconsistent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cross-sectional and retrospective relationship between maternal attitudes and child-feeding practices and children's weight status in children who had been subject of an obesity prevention intervention for two years.MethodsIn 2006, for a cross-sectional study, a random sample of 232 children (125 girls, mean age 11.91 ± 1.56 y and 107 boys mean age 11.98 ± 1.51 y) was selected from three primary schools from a small city called Casablanca. Weight and height were determined to assess their nutritional status, using body mass index (BMI) z scores. Child-feeding practices and attitudes were determined cross-sectionally in 2006, using the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ). To analyze the relationship between trends in weight change and child-feeding practices and attitudes, BMI z scores of all the 232 children in 2003 were used.ResultsCross-sectionally, mothers of overweight children were significantly more concerned (P < 0.01) about their child's weight. Mothers of normal weight sons used significantly more pressure to eat (P < 0.05). Only in boys, the BMI z score was positively correlated with concern for child's weight (r = 0.28, P < 0.05) and negatively with pressure to eat (r = -0.21, P < 0.05). Retrospectively, the change in BMI z score between age 9 and 12 was positively correlated with concern for child's weight, but only in boys (r = 0.21, P < 0.05). Perceived child weight and concern for child's weight, explained 37% in boys and 45% in girls of the variance in BMI z score at age 12.ConclusionMothers of overweight children were more concerned with their children's weight; this indicated the Western negative attitude towards childhood overweight. None of the child-feeding practices were significantly correlated with a change in BMI z score.
Highlights
Chile has experienced the nutritional transition due to both social and economic progress
Student's t-tests showed no significant difference in body mass index (BMI) at age 9 and at age 12 between children with complete data and those with incomplete data, stratified by gender
This study describes the relationship between BMI z scores in a sample of Chilean schoolchildren and the parental attitudes about child-feeding and child-feeding practices
Summary
Chile has experienced the nutritional transition due to both social and economic progress. Has the prevalence of obesity increased in developed countries, this is the case in many countries undergoing economic transition, such as Chile [3,4]. Responsible for this trend are various changes in the social, economic and physical environment, which are elements of the nutrition transition [5,6] and are characterized by a more sedentary lifestyle, a decrease in physical activity and an increase in the consumption of foods high in fat and refined carbohydrates as well as sweetened drinks and foods that are low in fiber. Long term consequences of childhood obesity are an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers in adulthood [8,9]
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