Feeding styles and child weight status among recent immigrant mother-child dyads.
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.
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, USA. alison.tovar@tufts.edu
Alison
A
Tovar
Erin
E
Hennessy
Alex
A
Pirie
Aviva
A
Must
David M
DM
Gute
Raymond R
RR
Hyatt
Christina Luongo
CL
Kamins
Sheryl O
SO
Hughes
Rebecca
R
Boulos
Sarah
S
Sliwa
Heloisa
H
Galvão
Christina D
CD
Economos
D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology*; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain