Association of Food Parenting Practices on Child BMI z Score and Waist Circumference in Mexican Preschool Children After 1 Year of Follow-Up

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 73 - 79
• Main Authors: Souto-Gallardo, María C., Bacardí-Gascón, Montserrat, Benjamin-Neelon, Sara, Jiménez-Cruz, Arturo, Pineda-García, Gisela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Child, Preschool; childhood obesity; Feeding Behavior - physiology; feeding practices; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Pediatric Obesity; preschool children; Waist Circumference - physiology; Young Adult; body weight; preschool children; feeding practices; childhood obesity
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.09.014

To evaluate the association between food parenting practices (FPPs) and weight status among preschoolers and the directionality of this association at 1-year follow-up. A longitudinal exploratory study was conducted using linear regression and structural equation modeling to determine directional associations between FPPs and children's body mass index z score and waist circumference. The FPPs were estimated using Child Feeding Questionnaire subscales. A total of 91 parent–child dyads completed the study. In structural equation modeling analysis, when identifying the FPPs in a latent variable with its indicators of indulgent feeding, food as a reward and restriction predicted higher body mass index z score at follow-up. Higher baseline waist circumference was also negatively associated with the use of food as a reward. Feeding–weight associations are likely bidirectional. Understanding them, as well as the pathways between them, is critical to developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.