Parental Feeding and Childhood Obesity in Preschool-Age Children: Recent Findings from the Literature

Abstract

Background: Research from recent studies (2005–2010) concerning parent feeding of preschool children and the risk for childhood obesity were included in this review.Methods: An integrative literature review method, as proposed by , was used to analyze data from a broad array of research methods, such as qualitative and experimental, and represent research from multiple disciplines. Rigor was maintained by using clearly defined variables, maintaining an audit trail, and opening the research for review from peers and experts. Eighteen peer reviewed journal articles (3 qualitative and 15 descriptive, cross-sectional studies) were included.Results: Findings from these articles contribute to a better understanding of factors related to feeding and parents from different cultural, educational and economic backgrounds, and their children's risk for obesity. Specifically, findings concerned how parents controlled and modified their children's eating, parental perception of their children's risk for obesity, what influenced parental feeding practices and how mothers' disinhibited eating and restrictive parenting practices related to their children's risk for obesity.Conclusions: These findings may impact the efficacy of childhood obesity prevention and intervention efforts and direct future childhood obesity research.