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Parental Feeding Style and Pediatric Obesity in Latino Families
Genevieve Maliszewski1, Meredith Dreyer Gillette2,3, Chris Brown4
11 Children's Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
Insights
In Latino families, a demanding parental feeding style was linked to lower child body mass index (BMI) scores. Culturally sensitive interventions are needed to address pediatric obesity risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health
- Nutritional science
- Family studies
Background:
- Pediatric obesity is a significant public health issue in the U.S.
- Parenting and feeding styles influence child weight.
- Latino families face elevated risks for pediatric obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between parental feeding styles and child body mass index (BMI) in Latino families.
- To understand how parenting behaviors impact child weight within this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 124 Latino parents of children aged 2-8 years.
- Data collected on parental feeding styles, acculturation, and demographics.
- Child BMI served as the primary outcome variable.
Main Results:
- A demanding parental feeding style correlated with lower child BMI z-scores (r = -.179, p < .05).
- This feeding style was also associated with higher acculturation levels (r = .213, p < .05).
- 40% of parents reported an indulgent feeding style; 72% of parents were overweight or obese.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive interventions for healthcare practitioners.
- Interventions should consider parental feeding behaviors to address pediatric obesity.
- Further research on ethnic variations in parenting and their impact on obesity is recommended.
Introduction:
Pediatric obesity has become an epidemic in the United States. Previous research has shown that parenting factors related to feeding style affect child weight and that Latino families are especially at risk for pediatric obesity. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between parental feeding style and child body mass index (BMI) in Latino families.
Method:
Latino parents of children between the ages of 2 and 8 ( N = 124) completed a survey on parental feeding styles, acculturation, and demographics. The outcome variable was child BMI.
Results:
Among respondents, 89% were mothers, 72% were overweight or obese, and 40% reported an indulgent feeding style. Children had a mean age of 59 months ( SD = 23.8) and a mean BMI z score of 0.77 ( SD = 1.14). A demanding parental feeding style was associated with lower child BMI z score, r = -.179, p < .05, and higher acculturation level, r = .213, p < .05.
Conclusions:
Findings from the current study can be used to inform health care practitioners of the need to use culturally sensitive interventions that consider parents' feeding behaviors. Future research is warranted in the area of ethnic variations of parenting and how these affect feeding and obesity in this highly vulnerable population.
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