Parent-child feeding practices in a developing country: Findings from the Family Diet Study

Yang WY 1 , Burrows T 2 , MacDonald-Wicks L 3 , Williams LT 4 , Collins CE 5 , Chee WSS 6

Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, International Medical University, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 2 School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 3 School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 4 School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 5 School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 6 Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, International Medical University, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected]
Appetite, 2018 06 01;125:90-97.
PMID: 29408380 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.01.037

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Given the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity in Malaysia, examination of family environmental factors is warranted. Reviews from developed countries report inconsistent findings on the relationship between parental-child feeding practices and child weight-related health outcomes. The current study aimed to examine parent-child feeding practices by familial-child characteristics in Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: The Family Diet Study was conducted with urban Malay families and included a child aged 8-12 years and their main carer(s). Seven domains of parent-child feeding practices were assessed using the child feeding questionnaire and familial demographics, including socio-economic status, child anthropometry and dietary intake were collected. Inferential statistics were used to explore the relationships between variables.

RESULTS: Of the 315 families enrolled, 236 completed all measures, with the majority of parent-reporters being mothers (n = 182). One-third of the children were classified as overweight/obese. Three domains of parent-child feeding practices had median scores of 4.0 out of 5.0 [concern about child overweight (CCO) (Interquartile range (IQR): 3.3, 4.7); pressure-to-eat (PTE) (IQR: 3.3, 4.5) and food monitoring (IQR: 3.0, 5.0)]. The domain of 'perceived child overweight' was positively associated with child age (r = 0.45, p 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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