title: Association of fathers' feeding practices and feeding style on preschool age children's diet quality, eating behavior and body mass index.
abstract: The associations of parental feeding practices and feeding style with childhood obesity have gained more attention in the literature recently; however, fathers are rarely included within these studies. The aim of this research was to determine the relationship of paternal feeding practices on child diet quality, weight status, and eating behavior, and the moderating effect of paternal feeding style on these relationships in preschool age children. This study included a one-time, one-on-one interview with biological fathers of preschoolers (n = 150) to assess feeding practices (Child Feeding Questionnaire), feeding style (Caregiver Feeding Style Questionnaire), child eating behaviors (Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire), and diet quality (24 hour recall, Healthy Eating Index). Height and weight for each father and child were also measured and Body Mass Index (BMI) or BMI z-score calculated. Linear regression was used to test the relationship between paternal feeding practices, style and child diet quality and/or body weight. Overall, the findings revealed that a father's feeding practices and feeding style are not associated with children's diet quality or weight status. However, child eating behaviors are associated with child BMI z-score and these relationships are moderated by paternal feeding practices. For example, child satiety responsiveness is inversely (β = -.421, p = 0.031) associated with child BMI z-score only if paternal restriction scores are high. This relationship is not significant when paternal restriction scores are low (β = -.200, p = 0.448). These results suggest that some child appetitive traits may be related to child weight status when exposed to certain paternal feeding practices. Future studies should consider the inclusion of fathers as their feeding practices and feeding style may be related to a child's eating behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, 3624 Horsebarn Hill Road Extension, Unit 4017, Storrs CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, 348 Mansfield Road, Unit 1058, Storrs CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adamsons
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, 3624 Horsebarn Hill Road Extension, Unit 4017, Storrs CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Jaime S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, 3624 Horsebarn Hill Road Extension, Unit 4017, Storrs CT 06269, USA. Electronic address: amy.mobley@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mobley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001066:Appetite; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005220:Fathers; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012527:Satiation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Childhood obesity; Eating behavior; Fathers; Feeding practices; Feeding style; Preschool children