Gina L Tripicchio1, Kathleen L Keller2, Cassandra Johnson1, Angelo Pietrobelli3, Moonseong Heo4, Myles S Faith5. 1. Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; 2. Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania; 3. Pediatric Unit, Verona University Medical School, Verona, Italy; Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York. 5. Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; mfaith@unc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Restrictive feeding is associated with childhood obesity; however, this could be due to other factors that drive children to overeat and parents to restrict (eg, child genetics). Using a twin design to better control for confounders, we tested differences in restrictive feeding within families in relation to differences in twins' self-regulatory eating and weight status. METHODS: Sixty-four same-gender twin pairs (4-7 years old) were studied with their mothers. Child caloric compensation ability (COMPX% index) was assessed by using a laboratory-based protocol. The Child Feeding Questionnaire assessed mothers' self-reported feeding styles toward each twin. Child BMI (kg/m(2)) and BMI z score were calculated by using measured weight and height; percent body fat and waist circumference were also assessed. Partial correlations examined within-twin pair differences in Child Feeding Questionnaire subscales in relation to within-twin pair differences in anthropometry and caloric compensation (COMPX%). RESULTS: Differences in maternal restriction were significantly associated with within-pair differences in child COMPX% and BMI z score. Mothers reported more restriction toward the heavier and more poorly compensating twin. Additionally, within-pair differences in parental pressure to eat were associated with significant differences in BMI z score, percent body fat, and waist circumference. Mothers were more pressuring toward the lighter twin. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers vary in their feeding practices, even among same-gender twin pairs, which might influence differences in adiposity. Future research needs to elucidate cause-and-effect and intervention implications regarding parental restriction and pressure-to-eat prompts.
OBJECTIVE: Restrictive feeding is associated with childhood obesity; however, this could be due to other factors that drive children to overeat and parents to restrict (eg, child genetics). Using a twin design to better control for confounders, we tested differences in restrictive feeding within families in relation to differences in twins' self-regulatory eating and weight status. METHODS: Sixty-four same-gender twin pairs (4-7 years old) were studied with their mothers. Child caloric compensation ability (COMPX% index) was assessed by using a laboratory-based protocol. The Child Feeding Questionnaire assessed mothers' self-reported feeding styles toward each twin. Child BMI (kg/m(2)) and BMI z score were calculated by using measured weight and height; percent body fat and waist circumference were also assessed. Partial correlations examined within-twin pair differences in Child Feeding Questionnaire subscales in relation to within-twin pair differences in anthropometry and caloric compensation (COMPX%). RESULTS: Differences in maternal restriction were significantly associated with within-pair differences in child COMPX% and BMI z score. Mothers reported more restriction toward the heavier and more poorly compensating twin. Additionally, within-pair differences in parental pressure to eat were associated with significant differences in BMI z score, percent body fat, and waist circumference. Mothers were more pressuring toward the lighter twin. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers vary in their feeding practices, even among same-gender twin pairs, which might influence differences in adiposity. Future research needs to elucidate cause-and-effect and intervention implications regarding parental restriction and pressure-to-eat prompts.
Authors: Myles S Faith; Kathleen L Keller; Patty Matz; Susan L Johnson; Rebecca Lewis; Marie Alexandra Jorge; Clare Ridley; Helen Han; Shoshanna Must; Moonseong Heo; Angelo Pietrobelli; Steven B Heymsfield; David B Allison Journal: Twin Res Date: 2002-10
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