Poster #41 - Feeding Children: Associations Between the Method of Complementary Foods Introduction, Feeding Practices, and Children’s BMI

• In Event: Poster Session 08

Abstract

Learning to eat complementary foods (CF) is a crucial milestone for infants (Utami et al., 2020). By six months of age, breast milk can no longer meet infants’ nutrition and energy requirements (D’Auria et al., 2018; Daniels et al., 2015). Therefore, if the introduction of CF is delayed, children become at risk for developing several serious health problems (Berisha et al., 2017). The manner in which CF is introduced can influence children’s eating behaviors and, consequently, their weight (Taylor et al., 2017). The most commonly used method for introducing CF is the Traditional Spoon-Feeding (TSF; Fu et al., 2018; Utami et al., 2019). However, an alternative method named Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) is increasingly becoming used as it has been associated with positive outcomes (Addessi et al., 2021; Cameron et al., 2013). Nevertheless, the literature about BLW and its relationship with aspects such as parental feeding practices and children’s weight in comparison to TSF is still an under-researched area. Our main goal was to explore associations between the method used to introduce CF, mothers’ feeding practices, and children’s BMI. Mothers of 167 children between 3 and 5 years reported on their feeding practices using the Child Feeding Questionnaire. To assess which method of CF introduction was applied, the Child Feeding History Questionnaire was used. Children’s weight was measured, and the body max index (BMI) was calculated as weight(kg)/height(m2). Bivariate correlations revealed that children’s BMI was positively associated with mothers’ use of restriction (r = .175; p < .05). Additionally, compared to the TSF method, mothers’ who reported to use the BLW method also reported using less pressure to eat (F(1;166)=5.494; p=.020) and lower children’s BMI (F(1;166)=6.127; p=.014). Regression analyses demonstrated that the method of CF introduction (β = –.202; p < .05), pressure to eat (β = –.211; p < .05) and restriction (β = .243; p < .01) were significant predictors of children’s BMI (R2 = .072). Our data suggest that children’s BMI may be determined by the method caregivers choose to introduce CF and parental feeding practices, with higher use of pressure to eat translating into children’s lower BMI and higher use of restriction translating into children’s higher BMI. Our results also reveal that the BLW method could be a protective factor against excessive weight gain in children and the use of non-responsive feeding practices, which contribute to the development of unhealthy eating behaviors (Faith et al., 2004; Larsen et al., 2015; Daniels et al., 2019).

Authors

• Ana Filipa Santos, ISPA - Instituto Universitário
  Presenting Author

• Carla Fernandes, ISPA - Instituto Universitário

• Fátima Martins

• Marilia Solange Ornelas Fernandes, ISPA-IU

• Manuela Veríssimo, ISPA-Instituto Universitário