Parental Feeding Practices and Child Weight Status in Mexican American Families

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In this 2-year longitudinal study, investigators assessed four types of culturally based parental feeding practices in Mexican American mother’s and fathers: restriction of amount of food, pressure to eat, use of food to control behavior, and positive involvement in child eating.

Some parental feeding practices may have an unintended negative impact on children’s weight. For example, results suggest that both mothers’ and fathers’ restriction of food predicted higher subsequent child weight status at Year 1. Additionally, child’s weight may influence parental feeding practices. For example, girls’ heavier weight at Year 1 predicted fathers’ less pressure to eat and less positive involvement in child eating at Year 2.

Feeding practices are modifiable factors. Latino mothers and fathers could benefit from guidance regarding culturally relevant, consistent, and constructive feeding practices.

Read Parental Feeding Practices and Child Weight Status in Mexican American Families.