Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and weight status in children: the role of parental feeding practices. (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Costarelli, Vassiliki; Michou, Maria; Panagiotakos, Demosthenes B.; Lionis, Christos
• Is Part Of: International journal of food sciences and nutrition. Volume 72:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 112
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: Childhood obesity -- Mediterranean diet -- parental feeding practices -- Greece; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 641.3
• DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2020.1765151
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-7486

Abstract

Abstract: The study examines Parental Feeding Practices (PFP) in relation to adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and children's weight status. It's a cross-sectional study of 402 parents (68.4% mothers), with children aged 2–12 years. Parents completed the Comprehensive Parental Feeding Questionnaire and the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED), evaluating children's adherence to the MD. Logistic regression showed that in children aged 2–<6 years, "emotion regulation/food as reward" and "pressure" decrease MD adherence (OR = 0.186, p < 0.0001 and OR = 0.496, p = 0.004), and "monitoring" decrease excess body weight (OR = 0.284, p = 0.009). In older children (6–12 years), "healthy eating guidance" and "monitoring" increase MD adherence (OR = 3.262, p = 0.001 and OR = 3.147, p < 0.0001), "child control" decreases MD adherence (OR = 0.587, p = 0.049), "pressure" decrease excess body weight (OR = 0.495, p < 0.0001) and "restriction" increase excess body weight (OR = 1.784, p = 0.015). "Healthy eating guidance" and "monitoring" seem to be the best PFP employed, in terms of children's MD adherence and weight status. Graphical Abstract: