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Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Medium is the message: moderate parental control of feeding correlates with improved weight outcome in a pediatric
Ric G Steele1, Chad D Jensen2, Laurie A Gayes2
1Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas and Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University rsteele@ku.edu.
Insights
Parental control over child feeding is complex. Moderate restriction in a family weight management program was linked to better outcomes for child obesity, unlike very high or low control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Obesity Research
- Behavioral Health Interventions
- Family Nutrition Dynamics
Background:
- Previous research indicates a complex relationship between parental feeding control and child/adolescent obesity.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for developing effective weight management strategies for youth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between parental food control variables and weight outcomes in children and adolescents.
- To examine these associations within the framework of a family-based behavioral treatment program for obesity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 93 youths and their parents participating in a clinical trial comparing two weight management interventions.
- Administered the Child Feeding Questionnaire at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and a 12-month follow-up.
- Employed latent growth curve modeling to analyze changes in parental control and child weight status.
Main Results:
- Parental restriction levels decreased over the course of the Positively Fit (PF) treatment.
- In the PF condition, increased parental restriction correlated with greater reductions in the body mass index standard deviation score (zBMI) among youths.
- Both high and low levels of parental control were associated with higher zBMI, consistent with prior studies.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest that moderate parental control over food intake may be beneficial for youths in obesity treatment programs.
- The study highlights the nuanced role of parental feeding practices in pediatric weight management.
- Results support the importance of tailored approaches to parental feeding control within behavioral interventions.
Objective:
Previous studies have suggested complex associations among variables related to parental control of feeding and child/adolescent obesity. The current study examined associations between parental food control variables and weight outcomes in the context of a behaviorally based family treatment program.
Methods:
Parents of youths (n = 93) enrolled in a clinical trial comparing 2 weight management interventions completed the Child Feeding Questionnaire pre- and post-treatment, and at a 12-month follow-up.
Results:
Latent growth curve modeling indicated that mean levels of restriction decreased over the course of treatment in the Positively Fit (PF) condition. Youths in the PF treatment condition whose parents increased their restriction of food experienced greater decreases in zBMI over treatment.
Conclusions:
Results echo previous reports that high and low parental control over food intake are associated with higher zBMI. Moderate parental control can be associated with beneficial outcomes in youths enrolled in behavioral treatment programs for obesity.
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