International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Volume 9, 2012

Feeding styles and child weight status among recent immigrant mother-child dyads (Article) (Open Access)

Tovar A.* , Hennessy E. , Pirie A. , Must A. , Gute D.M. , Hyatt R.R. , Kamins C.L. , Hughes S.O. , Boulos R. , Sliwa S. , Galvão H. , Economos C.D.
  • a John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
  • b National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
  • c Immigrant Service Providers Group/Health, C/o Somerville Community Corporation, 337 Somerville Avenue, 2nd Floor, Somerville, MA, 02143, United States
  • d Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
  • e Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, 200 College Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, United States
  • f Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
  • g John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
  • h Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
  • i John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
  • j John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
  • k Brazilian Women's Group, 569 Cambridge St, Allston, Boston, MA, 02134, United States
  • l John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02111, United States

Abstract

Background: Research has shown that parental feeding styles may influence children's food consumption, energy intake, and ultimately, weight status. We examine this relationship, among recent immigrants to the US. Given that immigrant parents and children are at greater risk for becoming overweight/obese with increased time in the US, identification of risk factors for weight gain is critical.Methods: Baseline data was collected on 383 mother-child dyads enrolled in Live Well, a community-based, participatory, randomized controlled lifestyle intervention to prevent weight gain in recent immigrant mothers. Socio-demographic information together with heights and weights were collected for both mother and child. Acculturation, behavioral data, and responses to the Caregiver's Feeding Styles Questionnaire (CFSQ) were also obtained from the mother.Results: The children's average age was 6.2 ± 2.7 years, 58% male. Mothers had been in the country for an average of 6.0 ± 3.3 years, and are Brazilian (36%), Haitian (34%) and Latino (30%). Seventy-two percent of the mothers were overweight/obese, while 43% of the children were overweight/obese. Fifteen percent of mothers reported their feeding style as being high demanding/high responsive; 32% as being high demanding/low responsive; 34% as being low demanding/high responsive and 18% as being low demanding/low responsive. In bivariate analyses, feeding styles significantly differed by child BMIz-score, ethnic group, and mother's perceived stress. In multiple linear regression, a low demanding/high responsive feeding style was found to be positively associated (ß = 0.56) with a higher child weight as compared to high demanding/high responsive, controlling for known covariates (p = 0.01).Conclusions: Most mothers report having a low demanding/high responsive feeding style, which is associated with higher child weight status in this diverse immigrant population. This finding adds to the growing literature that suggests this type of feeding style may be a risk factor for childhood obesity. Further research is needed to help understand the larger socio-cultural context and its influence on feeding dynamics among immigrant families and families of lower incomes. How parents establish a certain feeding style in their home country compared to when they move to the US " obesogenic" environment, should also be explored. © 2012 Tovar et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Author Keywords

Children immigrants Feeding styles Obesity

Index Keywords

immigrant Life Style Latin America demography poverty human child nutrition obesity feeding behavior Cross-Sectional Studies Haiti United States Humans Energy Intake Hispanic male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child Socioeconomic Factors female Child, Preschool Risk Factors stress questionnaire Mothers cultural factor Parenting Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article Questionnaires lifestyle modification Social Environment major clinical study adult body weight Linear Models Brazil ethnicity body mass body height Body Mass Index weight gain child parent relation Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84861470377&doi=10.1186%2f1479-5868-9-62&partnerID=40&md5=368c6c54659fb242465b735847668850
DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-62
ISSN: 14795868
Cited by: 62
Original Language: English