Abstract
Overt parental restriction of food has previously been associated with child weight; however, most research has relied on self-reported feeding behaviour, or observations which give little opportunity to observe restriction of food. Using a novel lab-based observational technique to increase the opportunity to observe maternal feeding restriction, we explored the relationships between maternal restriction, child responses to restriction and child temperament with child body mass index (BMI) Z-scores over time. Sixty-two mother child dyads were recruited to the study when their children were aged 3–5 years and were followed up 2 years later (N = 39 dyads). Families were observed during a feeding interaction in the laboratory where cookies were offered with the main meal to increase the opportunity for maternal restriction of food. Feeding observations were coded and child temperament and BMI were measured. Controlling for current child BMI Z-scores, greater maternal verbal and physical restriction of food at 3–5 years was related to higher child BMI Z-scores at 5–7 years. More emotional children were less likely to experience restriction and less likely to accept attempts to restrict their food intake. Further research should consider children’s reactions to parental feeding behaviours in greater depth and explore how feeding practices interact with child temperament in the prediction of changes in child weight.
Highlights
Covert restriction of unhealthy food, or the tendency not to keep high fat and high calorie foods in the home, has been suggested to be protective against unhealthy snacking behaviour in children [1]
Research with younger children has reported that maternal reports of restrictive feeding practices are related to lower subsequent child body mass index (BMI) Z-scores across infancy [9] and are associated with less eating in the absence of hunger in longitudinal research with
Previous research has repeatedly demonstrated that overt restriction of food is associated with weight gain across childhood [3,5], most research in this field has relied on self-reported parental feeding practices or observations of natural mealtime interactions where it is rare for parents to offer foods which they restrict [20]
Summary
Covert restriction of unhealthy food, or the tendency not to keep high fat and high calorie foods in the home, has been suggested to be protective against unhealthy snacking behaviour in children [1]. Parental use of overt and overly controlling food restriction is thought to be a counterproductive behaviour which is associated with children eating more in the absence of hunger [2], weight gain [3,4,5], and emotional eating [6]. Findings have been mixed and research with younger children has often failed to replicate the relationships between maternal restriction of food and children’s eating in the absence of hunger [9,10]. Research with younger children has reported that maternal reports of restrictive feeding practices are related to lower subsequent child body mass index (BMI) Z-scores across infancy [9] and are associated with less eating in the absence of hunger in longitudinal research with
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