The Moderating Effect of Parental Feeding Style in Relation to Familial Psychosocial Risk Factors and Childhood Obesity

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of obesity in children is increasing in the world and it has become one of the major health problems. Parents are the first people who have the opportunity to shape child's eating experiences and habits, including food preferences, attitudes, and eating patterns. This study was conducted to determine the moderating role of parental feeding styles in relation to family psychosocial and social risk factors and childhood obesity in primary school children in 2018-2019 academic year in Shiraz, Iran.

Methods: In this study, 298 children aged 6 to 11 years from primary schools in Shiraz were selected using multistage cluster sampling method. Their parents completed the stress-anxiety-depression scale tool and parenting feeding styles questionnaire. The data were analyzed using simultaneous multiple regression analysis, cluster analysis, and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: The results showed that there was a statistically significant correlation between the identified risk factors and child's body mass index (BMI), as well as the variable effect of feeding styles on the child's BMI. The interaction of risk factors on feeding styles indicated that the effect of adjusting feeding styles on childhood obesity was significant due to risk factors.

Conclusion: These findings support the moderating role of parental feeding styles in the development or prevention of childhood obesity.