486名3～6岁儿童体重指数与饮食行为的相关分析

目的 了解3～6岁儿童体重指数和饮食行为,并分析两者之间的关系,为儿童营养不良的防治措施提供参考依据。方法 2017年9月-2018年1月,采用分层整群抽样的调查方法,对所选取的486名3～6岁儿童的主要看护人进行调查,填写学龄前儿童饮食行为量表。调查员测量儿童身高、体重,计算体重指数。采用χ²检验、独立样本t 检验、单因素方差分析和多因素非条件Logistic回归分析对数据进行统计分析。结果 调查发现,在486名儿童中,体重指数正常儿童356名、消瘦11名、超重61名、肥胖58名,检出率分别为73.25%、2.26%、12.55%和11.93%。3～6岁儿童不同性别饮食行为各维度得分的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),不同年龄组情绪性饮食(F=3.472,P=0.032)、主动进食能力得分(F=3.816,P=0.023)差异有统计学意义。不同体重指数组儿童在挑食(F=4.804,P=0.003)、不良进食习惯(F=6.077,P<0.001)及过饱响应维度得分(F=4.392,P=0.005)差异有统计学意义。儿童体重指数的影响因素有挑食(OR=-0.367,95%CI:-0.966~-0.112,P<0.001)、不良饮食习惯(OR=-0.097,95%CI:-20.705~-0.204,P=0.045)。结论 该地区3～6岁儿童存在肥胖、消瘦等营养不良问题;挑食、不良进食习惯影响儿童体重指数;不同体重指数组儿童饮食行为在挑食、不良进食习惯及过饱响应方面有所不同。     

学龄前儿童饮食行为量表的编制与评价

【目的】 编制学龄前儿童饮食行为评价量表,为我国儿童饮食行为评价和相关研究提供基本工具。 【方法】 广泛查阅国内、外有关文献形成152问题的条目库,结合5名儿科临床和25名儿童家长意见,经2次测试和分析后形成“学龄前儿童饮食行为试用问卷”。通过对325名学龄前儿童的调查,采用因子分析和条目分析方法对试用问卷的条目进行了筛选,最终形成了包括56个条目的学龄前儿童饮食行为评价量表。在西安市5所幼儿园随机抽取603名3~6岁儿童家长进行调查,采用因子分析、相关分析等对量表的信度、效度、反应度进行检验。 【结果】 量表由56个条目组成,包括不良进食习惯、偏食、食物喜好、情绪性进食、过饱响应、食物响应、外因性进食、主动进食8个维度,累计方差贡献率达50.9%;验证性因子分析各指标均达到统计学要求。量表Cronbach's α系数为0.92,分半信度系数为0.86,重测信度系数为0.72。不良进食习惯、挑食、情绪性进食、过饱响应和食物响应5个维度得分在不同体重组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);不良进食习惯、挑食、食物喜好、外因性进食4个维度得分在不同文化程度家长间差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 【结论】 学龄前儿童饮食行为量表具有良好信度和效度,8个维度能较为全面地反映学龄前儿童饮食行为特点。     

西安市新城区学龄前儿童饮食行为特征及影响因素分析

目的 调查西安市新城区社区学龄前儿童常见不健康饮食行为特征,并系统分析影响儿童饮食行为的因素,为规范学龄前儿童良好的进食行为、促进学龄前儿童合理膳食提供依据。方法 2017年8-12月选取西安市新城区6个社区卫生服务中心306名学龄前儿童作为研究对象,采用“学龄前儿童饮食行为量表”进行,并利用多元线性回归分析儿童饮食行为影响的因素。结果 西安市社区学龄前儿童最常见的不健康饮食行为是挑食、主动进食能力差、不良进食习惯等。不同性别的挑食,不良进食习惯及过饱响应得分差异均有统计学意义(t=3.650,2.024,3.707,P<0.05)。抚养人教育背景不同,儿童挑食行为得分差异有统计学意义(F=3.126,P=0.026)。抚养人身体状况不同,儿童主动进食能力得分差异有统计学意义(F=5.052,P=0.007)。家庭常住人口数不同,学龄前儿童的挑食行为,不良进食习惯得分差异有统计学意义(t=6.442,3.515,P<0.05)。经多元线性回归分析,影响学龄前儿童饮食行为的因素依次为是否独生子女、家庭常驻人口数、体重指数及抚养人教育背景。结论 加强抚养人知识储备和健康抚养观念的建立,家庭成员统一抚养观念,减少肥胖/超重儿童不良进食习惯,是培养学龄前儿童健康饮食行为,促进身心健康的有效措施。     

不同体重母亲喂养方式及学龄前儿童饮食行为比较

目的比较正常体重与超重/肥胖2种类型母亲的喂养方式和学龄前饮食行为各维度的差异,为制定有效促进学龄前儿童健康饮食行为形成的健康教育策略提供参考依据。方法于2016年10月采用综合性喂养行为问卷和学龄前儿童饮食行为问卷对浙江省杭州市1 157名母亲进行调查,评估母亲喂养方式及学龄前儿童的饮食行为,并对不同体重母亲的喂养方式及其子女的饮食行为进行比较。结果超重/肥胖母亲控制进食得分(2.69±0.53)明显高于健康体重母亲得分(2.21±0.42),而建立良好的家庭进食环境(3.81±0.72)、鼓励均衡和多样化饮食(4.01±0.45)、家长模范榜样(2.91±0.65)得分均低于健康体重母亲的得分;学龄前儿童饮食行为比较结果表明,与健康体重母亲比较,超重/肥胖母亲自报其孩子爱喝饮料(3.44±0.58)、食物喜好(3.91±0.64)得分更高,饱腹响应得分(1.97±0.63)偏低。结论超重或肥胖母亲更倾向采取不健康的喂养方式,且其孩子更可能养成喜欢喝饮料、食物喜好等不良的饮食习惯。     

照护人喂养行为和儿童饮食行为对儿童体重的影响

目的 探讨学龄前儿童照护人喂养行为、儿童饮食行为对儿童体重的综合影响,为儿童肥胖的预防及早期干预措施的制定提供参考依据。方法 2016年4-7月,使用《学龄前儿童照护人喂养行为量表》(CPCFBS)和《学龄前儿童饮食行为量表》(CPEBQ)对912名学龄前儿童照护人进行调查,采用多元线性回归和Logisitic回归分析方法,分析在控制了家庭人口学特征后,照护人喂养行为和儿童饮食行为对儿童BMI及超重/肥胖的影响。结果 多元逐步回归分析表明,在控制了家庭人口学特征后,喂养行为中的体重担忧和饮食行为中的食物响应与BMI呈正相关关系(P<0.05);照护人喂养行为中的责任喂养及儿童饮食行为中的外因性进食与BMI呈负相关关系(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析结果表明,在控制了家庭人口学特征后,喂养行为中的体重担忧、饮食行为中的食物响应、情绪性进食是超重/肥胖的危险因素(P<0.05);饮食行为中的饮食行为限制、过饱响应是超重/肥胖是超重/肥胖的保护因素(P<0.05)。结论 学龄前儿童体重受饮食行为和喂养行为综合影响,可通过培养健康的照护人喂养行为和儿童饮食行为进行学龄前期儿童肥胖的预防。     

孕期超重、儿童期饮食行为与儿童期体重的相关性研究

目的 分析孕前体重、孕期增加体重、儿童期饮食行为对儿童体重的影响,为管理儿童体重提供一定的科学依据。方法 选取2014年1月—2016年12月在南京大学医学院附属泰康仙林鼓楼医院及南通大学附属东台医院产科分娩的512例产妇及512例婴儿,收集母亲孕前体重指数(BMI)、孕期增重等资料。2019年12月—2020年3月随访并测量上述512名儿童的身高、体重,评定饮食行为。采用相关统计方法分析孕前体重、孕期增加体重、儿童期饮食行为对儿童体重的影响。结果 512名儿童年龄为3~6岁,有12.70%儿童超重/肥胖。相比于体重正常儿童,超重/肥胖儿童的母亲孕前超重/肥胖更常见(10.51% vs 38.46%,χ²=37.512,P=0.001),孕期超重更常见(7.83% vs 43.78%,χ²=75.201,P=0.001);不良饮食习惯、挑食、过饱响应得分更高(P=0.001)。Logistic回归分析也表明孕前体重(OR=1.109,95%CI:1.025~1.213)、孕期体重增加(OR=1.098, 95%CI:1.031~1.261)、儿童期饮食行为中不良饮食习惯(OR=1.113, 95%CI:1.054~1.257)、挑食(OR=1.257, 95%CI:1.232~1.467)、过饱响应(OR=1.284, 95%CI:1.135~1.513)是儿童超重的危险因素。结论 儿童体重受母亲孕前体重、孕期增重以及儿童期饮食习惯的综合影响。合理控制孕前BMI及孕期增重,积极指导儿童建立健康的饮食行为,有助于降低儿童超重/肥胖的发生率。     

学龄前儿童不健康的饮食模式及饮食行为及其对体型的影响

了解扬州地区学龄前儿童不健康的饮食模式及饮食行为的现状,探讨其对体型的影响。方法 于2015年4-5月采用问卷调查方法收集扬州市7所托幼机构2 531名在园儿童家庭基本信息及儿童最近一周的饮食情况,包括饮食行为及饮食习惯。结果 学龄前儿童不健康的饮食模式发生率为7.8%,不健康的饮食行为中挑食的发生率最高,为25.2%(637/2 531),男童高于女童(27.5% vs. 22.5%,P<0.05),其次为进餐速度快,为18.8%(477/2 531),男童高于女童(20.9% vs.16.5%,P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析发现,饮食偏咸(OR=2.05,95%CI:1.26~3.34)、偏油腻(OR=1.96,95%CI:1.22~3.16)食物是儿童肥胖的危险因素(P<0.05),进餐速度慢是保护性因素(OR=0.31,95%CI:0.23~0.42,P<0.001),不同的饮食模式对学龄前儿童体重的影响差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 扬州市学龄前不健康的饮食模式及饮食行为发生率较高,且不健康的饮食行为与肥胖相关,应采取措施如改变家庭不良的饮食行为等,从而降低儿童肥胖的发生。     

祖辈、父辈喂养行为差异及其与学龄前儿童进食行为的关系

目的 探讨祖辈、父辈喂养行为差异及其与学龄前儿童进食行为的关系,进一步明晰喂养人身份、喂养行为对进食行为的可能影响。方法 2020年5月-2021年1月,选择上海市浦东新区8所幼儿园和2处社区卫生服务中心的学龄前儿童的主要喂养人进行问卷调查。根据主要喂养人身份,采用1∶2倾向性评分匹配,形成祖辈组(72例)和父辈组(144例)。结果 祖辈组和父辈组在饮食内容限制(t=4.72, P＜0.001)和饮食行为限制(t=2.13, P=0.036)维度得分的差异有统计学意义,其对应儿童在主动进食能力(t=-4.76, P＜0.001)、外因性进食(t=-5.07, P＜0.001)和情绪性进食(t=1.99, P=0.050)维度得分的差异有统计学意义。多变量方差分析发现,喂养人的饮食行为限制(F=1.82,P=0.086)、鼓励健康饮食(F=2.46,P=0.019)和饮食内容限制(F=3.69,P=0.001)对学龄前儿童进食行为有显著预测作用,喂养人身份与儿童进食行为之间无统计学关联(P＞0.10)。结论 与祖辈相比,父辈喂养人更频繁地使用饮食行为限制和饮食内容限制,喂养行为而非喂养人身份与学龄前儿童的进食行为显著相关。     

扬州市城区学龄前儿童腰围特征及影响因素分析

目的 研究扬州市城区学龄前儿童腰围特征,并分析其影响因素,为我国学龄前儿童腹型超重/肥胖筛查与防治提供依据。方法 于2015年4-5月分层整群抽取7所幼儿园2 531名儿童,对家长进行问卷调查;采用集中体检的方式,测量儿童体重、身高、腰围等;对其腰围和腰围身高比进行描述性分析,并通过单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析腰围的影响因素。结果 扬州市城区学龄前儿童腰围随年龄增长逐渐增加,各年龄组男童均大于女童;女童腰围身高比随年龄增长逐渐减低,男童则有波动。单因素分析结果显示,父母体重指数(BMI)、母亲学历、儿童每日睡眠时间、户外活动时间、视屏时间等对儿童腰围有影响(P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,父母高BMI是学龄前儿童高腹围的危险因素(母亲BMI:OR=1.15,95%CI:1.09~1.18,P＜0.001;父亲BMI:OR=1.12,95%CI:1.07~1.15,P＜0.001)。结论 需逐步建立我国学龄前儿童腰围正常范围与腹型超重/肥胖腰围筛查界值点,为学龄前儿童腹型超重/肥胖筛查与防治提供依据;要控制腹型肥胖需进行以家庭为中心的饮食、生活方式的综合性干预。     

户籍与流动学龄前儿童焦虑症状的相关因素研究

目的 了解城市地区的户籍与流动学龄前儿童焦虑症状的现况及相关因素,为学龄前儿童的焦虑问题防治以及改善流动儿童的心理健康状态的干预措施提供科学依据。方法 2017年6月采用方便整群抽样法,从3所户籍儿童幼儿园和3所流动儿童幼儿园,抽取3~6岁在园儿童1 513名。使用Spence学前儿童焦虑量表评估焦虑症状,养育环境评价量表评估养育行为。采用多元线性回归探讨学龄前儿童焦虑症状的相关因素。结果 流动儿童广泛性焦虑、社交焦虑和分离焦虑得分以及总焦虑得分均显著高于户籍儿童。总体焦虑症状的阳性检出率为2.77%(42/1 513),流动儿童高于户籍儿童(χ²=7.95,P<0.01)。广泛性焦虑、社交焦虑和分离性焦虑的症状阳性检出率分别为3.16%、3.82%和3.89%。其中,分离性焦虑症状的阳性检出率,流动儿童高于户籍儿童(χ²=6.82,P<0.01)。多因素回归分析显示,日常陪伴(β=-0.14,P<0.05)、育儿支持(β=-0.08,P<0.05)可减少学龄前儿童的焦虑症状,而惩罚(β=0.49,P<0.01)可增加儿童焦虑症状。儿童类型与家长养育行为的交互作用也与儿童焦虑水平密切相关(β=0.11,-0.12,P<0.05)。结论 高质量的日常陪伴、增加家庭成员之间的育儿支持,减少惩罚,可降低学龄前儿童焦虑的症状水平。     

Preliminary Exploration of Obesity-Related Eating Behaviour Patterns in a Sample of Saudi Preschoolers Aged 2–6 Years through the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire

Background: The Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) is used with parents to determine the characteristics of eating behaviour of their children and, consequently, children’s propensity to become obese. It has been successfully used mainly in Western countries, but not in Saudi Arabia. In this pilot study, we explored the use of the Saudi version of the CEBQ for preschool children aged 2–6 years in Saudi Arabia, and assessed the associations between eating behaviours and children’s age, gender and relative weight and parental weight. Methods: Parents of 200 Saudi preschool children in Riyadh completed the Saudi version of the CEBQ. Factor analyses on all CEBQ items were performed and differences between genders and age groups were examined. Correlations between children’s BMI z-scores and eating behaviours were analysed using linear regression. Results: The factor analysis revealed an eight-factor solution similar to the theoretical factor structure, with good internal reliability and acceptable correlations between subscales. Boys scored higher than girls on food responsiveness; no difference between age groups was found. Positive associations between BMI z-scores and ‘food approach’ subscales, food responsiveness, enjoyment of food and emotional overeating were found, while ‘food avoidant’ subscales, satiety responsiveness and slowness in eating had inverse relationships with BMI z-scores. Maternal BMI had a positive association with BMI z-scores and food responsiveness. Conclusion: The CEBQ is a valid psychometric tool that can be reliably used to assess eating behaviour characteristics in Saudi preschool children.     

注意缺陷多动障碍儿童的饮食行为和体格生长

  目的  探讨注意缺陷多动障碍(attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity, ADHD)儿童体格生长和饮食行为的相关性，为ADHD儿童的管理以及给予饮食行为指导提供依据。  方法  采用方便抽样的方法，抽取2019年6—9月于南京医科大学附属儿童医院儿童保健科门诊就诊的703名4~13岁ADHD儿童进行调查。对所有儿童进行体格测量，按照BMI-Z评分将ADHD组儿童分为消瘦、正常、超重和肥胖4组，同时对ADHD儿童进行饮食行为问卷(Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire, CEBQ)评估，分析ADHD患儿的饮食行为情况与体格生长的关系。  结果  饮食行为评估显示，消瘦组ADHD儿童在过饱响应、进食缓慢、情绪性饮食减少食物逃避维度的得分均高于其他3组(F值分别为17.57，29.32，4.07，P值均 < 0.01)，肥胖组在食物响应、食物喜好、渴望饮料、情绪性过度饮食食物导向维度得分均高于其他3组(F值分别为24.54，47.44，2.96，5.85，P值均 < 0.05)。多元线性回归校正混杂因素后，过饱响应、进食缓慢与儿童BMI-Z呈负相关(B值分别为-0.05，-0.07，P值均 < 0.01)，食物响应、食物喜好、情绪性过度进食与儿童BMI-Z呈正相关(B值分别为0.04，0.09，0.05，P值均 < 0.05)。  结论  ADHD儿童情绪性进食、对食物喜好及响应程度过高与超重和肥胖相关，进食速度过慢、对饱食信号的高反应则与消瘦相关。临床治疗不仅要重视改善ADHD患儿核心症状，同时需要关注其饮食行为问题对体格生长的影响。     

儿童人格特征和饮食行为与肥胖的相关性

  目的  探讨饮食行为在人格特征与儿童肥胖关联中的作用, 为有效预防中国儿童肥胖提供科学依据。  方法  2018年9月在北京、山西长治、新疆乌鲁木齐3个地区调查1 271名小学四年级儿童。采用大五人格量表简表测量人格特征, 使用儿童饮食行为问卷测量儿童饮食行为, 通过体格检查获取5个肥胖相关指标。  结果  校正性别、年龄和地区后, 严谨性人格标准化评分与儿童BMI(B=-0.227, 95%CI=-0.422~-0.031)、BMI Z评分(B=-0.081, 95%CI=-0.158~-0.006)、腰围(B=-0.720, 95%CI=-1.281~-0.159)、腰臀围比(B=-0.004, 95%CI=-0.007~ -0.001)和体脂百分比(B=-0.727, 95%CI=-1.293~-0.162)均呈负相关(P值均 < 0.05)。中介作用分析结果显示, 严谨性人格可能通过食物响应和情绪性过食行为影响BMI、BMI Z评分、腰围、腰臀围比和体脂百分比; 食物响应和情绪性过食行为在严谨性人格与5个肥胖相关指标的中介作用占总效应的比例分别为27.5%~47.1%和0.9%~18.0%(P值均 < 0.05)。  结论  严谨性人格与较低的儿童肥胖风险相关, 食物响应和情绪性过食行为是两者关联的中介因素。应针对严谨性较低的儿童及时开展健康教育, 以早期预防肥胖的发生。     

Eating behavior dimensions. Associations with energy intake and body weight. A review

The purpose of this review is to spark integrative thinking in the area of eating behaviors by critically examining research on exemplary constructs in this area. The eating behaviors food responsiveness, enjoyment of eating, satiety responsiveness, eating in the absence of hunger, reinforcing value of food, eating disinhibition and impulsivity/self-control are reviewed in relation to energy intake, body mass index and weight gain over time. Each of these constructs has been developed independently, and little research has explored the extent to which they overlap or whether they differentially predict food choices, energy intake and weight gain in the naturalistic environment. Most available data show positive cross-sectional associations with body mass index, but fewer studies report associations with energy intake or food choices. Little prospective data are available to link measures of eating behaviors with weight gain. Disinhibition has the largest and most consistent body of empirical data that link it prospectively with weight gain. An overarching conceptual model to integrate the conceptual and empirical research base for the role of eating behavior dimensions in the field of obesity research would highlight potential patterns of interaction between individual differences in eating behaviors, specific aspects of the individual's food environment and individual variation in state levels of hunger and satiety.     

Pathological eating behaviors,BMI, and facet-level traits: The roles of Conscientiousness,Neuroticism, and Impulsivity

The current study examined the bivariate and multivariate associations of personality with Body Mass Index (BMI) and several eating behavior inventories, focusing on facets of Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, and Impulsivity. Simultaneous multiple regressions showed that the facets Traditionalism, Urgency, and low Vulnerability were significant predictors of BMI. A factor analysis of the eating behavior scales revealed two dimensions: (a) Food and Body Preoccupation and (b) Cued Eating; Neuroticism, low Conscientiousness, and Perfectionism were significant predictors of both eating behavior factors. In addition, the Depression facet predicted Food and Body Preoccupation, and low Temperance predicted Cued Eating. Implications are discussed for the structure of eating pathology and the specificity of facet traits to eating behaviors and obesity.     

The relationship between eating behaviors and obesity in African American and Caucasian women

The primary goal of this study was to determine the relevance of four self-reported eating behaviors (eating before bedtime, eating between meals, feeling hungry within 3 h of eating, and eating beyond satiation) as risk factors for overweight and obesity. The sample consisted of 35- to 49-year-old, premenopausal African American (n=580) and Caucasian (n=398) women, randomly selected from the membership of a large urban prepaid health plan. Eating beyond satiation was the only behavior associated with body mass index (BMI). The odds of becoming obese increased 6-fold for Caucasian women and 15-fold for African American women who ate beyond satiation everyday compared to those who rarely or never ate beyond satiation. Additionally, eating beyond satiation was also the only eating behavior associated with the age of obesity onset. Focusing on this eating behavior in weight loss programs may be important.     

Personality traits in overweight and obese women: associations with BMI and eating behaviors

This study aimed at assessing the extent to which personality traits are related to BMI and eating behaviors in overweight and obese women (N=154; mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.5+/-3.0 kg/m(2)). The NEO Five-Factor Inventory was used to capture the five dimensions of personality (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness). Anthropometric measurements (weight, height and BMI) were performed and eating behaviors (cognitive dietary restraint, disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger) were measured by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Regressional analyses showed that only conscientiousness was positively related to BMI. A higher level of neuroticism was identified as a significant predictor of higher scores for cognitive dietary restraint, disinhibition and susceptibility to hunger. Conscientiousness was also found to be a positive determinant of cognitive dietary restraint and a higher level of agreeableness predicted a lower score of susceptibility to hunger. Results also underline the presence of other psychological factors, i.e. dysphoria and body esteem, involved in the associations between personality traits and some eating behaviours. These findings suggest that particular dimensions of personality may contribute, either directly or through their association with other psychological factors, to a better understanding of weight and eating behaviors in overweight and obese women.     

Eating styles, overweight and obesity in young adult twins

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of eating styles with overweight and obesity in young adults, controlling for identical genetic background in monozygotic twins. DESIGN: Prospective twin cohort study. SETTING: Finland, 1991-2002. SUBJECTS: Two-hundred and thirty-three women and 2060 men from the FinnTwin16 study, aged 16 years at baseline (T1), and ranging from 22 to 27 years at the time of the nutritional assessment (T4). METHODS: Eating styles (Restrictive/overeating, health-conscious, snacking, emotional and externally induced), self-reported at T4, were contrasted with body mass indices (BMIs) at T1 and T4. RESULTS: At T4, obesity (BMI>or=30Kg/m(2)) was significantly cross-sectionally associated with restrictive eating, frequent snacks, eating in the evening, avoiding fatty foods and failure to maintain healthy eating patterns. These associations were independent of BMI at T1. Obese women self-reported more vulnerability to external eating cues and comfort eating than normal-weight women. However, in a multivariable model, only restrictive/overeating and health-conscious eating styles were significant correlates of obesity at T4, independent of gender and BMI at T1. When we controlled for genetic background restricting the analysis to the 39 female and 45 male monozygotic twin pairs discordant for obesity or overweight (BMI>or=25Kg/m(2)), restrictive/overeating eating style was still statistically significantly associated with excess weight. CONCLUSIONS: The eating styles of obese young adults differ from their normal-weight counterparts: restrictive eating, overeating and fewer healthy food choices are associated with obesity. Different eating styles may partially explain weight differences in individuals with identical genetic background.     

Eating Competence Among Caregivers of Toddlers: Associations With Caregiver and Child Overweight/Obesity

ObjectiveTo examine the association between caregiver eating competence and child overweight/obesity and caregiver obesity.DesignLongitudinal cohort.SettingA large US children's hospital.ParticipantsCaregiver–child dyads (n = 288 with complete data at 2 time points) were sampled in 2017–2019 from those who received care at Nationwide Children's Hospital.Main Outcome Measure(s)Child overweight/obesity at 24 months of age (body mass index [BMI]) z-score >2 per World Health Organization standards and caregiver weight status (underweight/healthy [BMI < 25 kg/m²], overweight [BMI ≥ 25 and < 30 kg/m²], or obese [BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²]).AnalysisLog-binomial models examined the relationship between caregiver eating competence (ecSatter Inventory) at 18 months and child overweight/obesity at 24 months of age. Proportional odds models investigated the relationship between caregivers’ eating competence and weight status.ResultsEating competent caregivers had more than twice the odds (odds ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.30–3.42) of having a lower BMI category and had lower average BMI than noneating competent caregivers. Child overweight/obesity at 24 months did not differ by caregiver eating competence.Conclusions and ImplicationsAlthough child overweight/obesity did not vary by caregiver eating competence, caregiver eating competence was related to their weight status. Longer-term studies are needed to clarify the role of caregiver eating competence as children develop. Promoting caregivers’ eating competence may translate into healthier behaviors and skills for caregivers and their children long term.