ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Feeding difficulties (FDs) are complex phenomena influenced by parental factors, feeding behaviour, and cultural factors. However, studies of the influences of these factors on FDs incidence are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to identify the associations between mothers' perceptions of FDs in children and parental feeding styles, body mass index, and the consumption of fruits, vegetables and processed foods. METHOD: Two hundred and fifty-seven mothers of children aged 1 to 6 years and 11 months participated in this cross-sectional study and self-completed electronic questionnaires on sociographic variables, parental feeding styles, the consumption of fruits, vegetables and processed foods and FDs. Nutritional status was classified by body mass index (kg/m2). RESULTS: The prevalence of FDs in children was 48.2%, and the mean age was 43.8 (± 17.6) months. The indulgent parental feeding style was the most common (40.1%), followed by the authoritative (31.1%), authoritarian (23.7%), and uninvolved (5.1%) styles. An indulgent parental feeding style (OR: 4.66; 95% CI: 2.20-9.85), a high body mass index (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.09-1.68), and the consumption of processed foods (OR: 5.21; 95% CI: 2.85-9.53) were positively associated with increased odds of the absence of FDs in children. The associations of authoritarian and uninvolved parental feeding styles and the consumption of fruits and vegetables with FDs in children were not significant. CONCLUSION: This study identified multiple factors that are possibly associated with feeding behaviours in young children. However, further studies need to be undertaken to evaluate how such behaviours affect FDs.
Subject(s)
Fruit , Vegetables , Child , Female , Humans , Child, Preschool , Adult , Body Mass Index , Cross-Sectional Studies , Food, Processed , Parenting , Parent-Child Relations , Parents , Feeding Behavior , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare data on nutritional awareness regarding FV among adolescents from five Brazilian regions, according to demographics, physical activity levels, screen time and BMI METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 1.190 males aged 10-12 in five Brazilian regions, enrolled in a football tournament, with parental consent. BMI, weekly physical activity and daily screen time in minutes, awareness of FV recommendations in daily servings and recognition of food groups, home region, and residents of the household were obtained through self-administered questionnaire, adapted from a previously validated tool. ANOVA, Spearman correlation and chi-squared tests were performed, with a significance level of 5% RESULTS: Analysis showed 29% of overweight and obesity, less than 2 hours of daily screen time (70%) and insufficient levels of weekly physical activity (mean 226 minutes). Most (95%) lived with parents and with siblings (73%). About 29% of the sample were aware of FV recommendations and 60% recognized food groups. Awareness was not associated with BMI (p = 0.95), home region (p = 0,88), physical activity (p = 0.21), screen time (p = 0.46) or housing characteristics (p = 0.33 CONCLUSIONS: Data found on awareness of food groups are consistent with national and international studies, suggesting patterns of poor awareness worldwide. To our knowledge, there are no other Brazilian reports of level of awareness on recommendations of FV in this age group. The importance of behavioral interventions is acknowledged for stimulating healthy habits, which renders the results useful for the development of educational activities for this age group in Brazil
OBJETIVO: Identificar os padrões alimentares (PA) e sua relação com segurança alimentar e estado nutricional de pré-escolares MÉTODO: Estudo transversal com 308 crianças entre 24 e 48 meses de idade atendidas em creches municipais de Taubaté, São Paulo, Brasil. O consumo alimentar foi avaliado por questionário de frequência alimentar e analisado por meio de seus componentes principais. O estado nutricional foi avaliado pelo indicador IMC/idade e a situação de insegurança alimentar (IA) foi classificada pela pontuação da Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar RESULTADOS: Identificou-se cinco PA: "Ocidental", "Frutas, verduras e legumes", "Prudente", "Lácteo" e "Tradicio- nal". Os pré-escolares com padrão "Ocidental" tem menores chances (OR:0,51; IC95%:0,27-0,98) de estarem em IA moderada e grave; contudo, a qualidade da alimentação está comprometida, caracterizando o IA leve. Enquanto as crianças com dieta "Tradicional" estão fortemente relacionadas às famílias que recebem benefício social e ao excesso de peso infantil (p < 0,05 CONCLUSÕES: PA "Ocidental" e "Tradicional" são qualitativa e quantitativamente inadequados, independente da condição de renda familiar e escolaridade materna. Assim, ações públicas que combatam padrões alimentares desfavoráveis à saúde são urgentes para prevenção de doenças crônicas
