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Parental Feeding Behaviors and Weight-Related Concerns in Children With Special Needs

Michele Polfuss1,2, Pippa Simpson3, Rachel Neff Greenley4

  • 11 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI, USA.

Western Journal of Nursing Research
|March 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Parental feeding behaviors impact child weight in youth with special needs. Parent concerns about weight can worsen these feeding behaviors, increasing obesity risk.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Parental feeding behaviors and weight concerns are linked to obesity in typically developing youth.
  • Children with special needs, including autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, and Down syndrome, face higher obesity risks.
  • Limited research exists on parental feeding dynamics and weight concerns within this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between parental feeding behaviors, parent weight concerns, and child weight status.
  • To explore demographic influences on these relationships in parents of children with special needs.

Main Methods:

  • An online survey was administered to 356 parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, or Down syndrome.
  • Data collected included parental feeding behaviors, parent weight concerns, demographics, and child weight status.

Main Results:

  • Specific parental feeding behaviors were significantly associated with child weight status.
  • Parental concern about child weight intensified problematic feeding behaviors.
  • Child's diagnosis, family income, parent age, and parent gender influenced feeding behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Parental feeding practices and concerns play a critical role in the weight status of children with special needs.
  • Healthcare providers can leverage these findings to promote healthy feeding practices in this population.
  • Targeted education is needed to mitigate obesity risks in children with autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, and Down syndrome.

Keywords:
Down syndromeautismfeedingobesityparentingspecial needsspina bifida

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