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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #172051
Title: PERCEPTIONS OF FOOD CONTROL AND CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Author
item NICHOLS, J - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
item Cullen, Karen

Submitted to: Journal Of The American Dietetic Association
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2003
Citation: Nichols, J., Cullen, K. 2003. Perceptions of food control and childhood obesity. Journal Of The American Dietetic Association. 103(9 Suppl 1):A-86.

Interpretive Summary: Not required for an abstract.

Technical Abstract: This is a cross-sectional study design. Participants included an ethnically diverse sample of 224 students from 18 Grade 4-6 classrooms randomly selected from seven parochial schools in Houston, Texas and 115 of their parents. Data assessing parenting styles and parental control over child feeding was obtained from questionnaires distributed to student participants and their parents. Parental reporting of height and weight was used to determine the Body Mass Index (BMI) of children and parents. There was a significant inverse relationship between negative parenting practices and child BMI for the boys (r = -0.393, p < 0.01). For girls, there was an inverse relationship between parental control over child feeding and child BMI (r = -0.215, p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant direct relationship between permissive eating practices and child BMI for African-American children (r = 0.291, p < 0.05). There was a significant inverse relationship between parental control over child feeding and parent BMI for the African-American boys (r = -0.648, p < 0.05). In conclusion, results did demonstrate a relationship between parenting style and child BMI as well as between food control and child BMI. While the participants had diverse ethnic backgrounds, further studies with larger ethnic groups may better illustrate differences in child feeding patterns and their relationship on the weight status of children. Understanding these relationships may help guide parents in providing healthy feeding practices for their children.