Maternal restrictive feeding practices for child weight control and associated characteristics

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Childhood Obesity
• Maternal Health Behaviors

Background:

• Maternal feeding practices significantly influence children's dietary habits and weight status.
• Restrictive feeding for weight control is a common parental strategy, but its associations require further investigation.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify associations between maternal restrictive feeding practices aimed at child weight control and various child and maternal characteristics.
• To explore links with sociodemographic, behavioral, dietetic, and anthropometric factors.
• To inform evidence-based guidance for health and education professionals.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving mothers of children aged 2–8 years.
• Maternal feeding practices assessed using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire.
• Statistical analyses included bivariate and multivariate associations using nonparametric methods to determine odds ratios and significance.

Main Results:

• Maternal restrictive feeding for weight control was independently associated with the mother perceiving her child as overweight or obese (OR=4.61).
• Increased maternal concern about child overweight (OR=2.61) and actual child overweight/obesity (OR=2.18) were significant predictors.
• Higher child intake of ultra-processed foods was also associated with restrictive feeding practices (OR=1.40).

Conclusions:

• Identified risk variables associated with maternal restrictive feeding practices can guide educational interventions.
• Interventions should target health and education networks serving populations with similar characteristics.
• Addressing maternal perceptions and child dietary patterns is key to effective weight management strategies.