Eva M Conceição1, Joana Pinheiro2, Sílvia Félix2, Sofia Ramalho2, Sónia Gonçalves2. 1. School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. econceicao@psi.uminho.pt. 2. School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Grazing is a problematic eating behavior linked with poor weight loss outcomes, disordered eating psychopathology, and psychological distress in the adult population. However, no study assessed this behavior in children. Childhood is an important time frame for the development and maintenance of healthy eating habits, which can be influenced by children's psychological state, eating habits, and parental practices. This study investigates the associations between grazing behavior in children and children's psychological variables (anxiety, depression and withdrawn symptoms, body image dissatisfaction), children eating habits, and parental feeding practices. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 330 primary school students (6-10 years old) and their parents completed measures assessing children's grazing, anxiety/depression and withdrawn symptoms, body image dissatisfaction, children eating habits and style, and parental feeding practices. RESULTS: The path analysis tested showed that more restrictive parental feeding practices, inappropriate children eating habits, children's anxiety/depression symptoms, and body image dissatisfaction were associated with increased grazing scores (CMIN = 12.679; DF = 11; p = 0.315; RMSEA = 0.025; CFI = 0.990; NFI = 0.935; TLI = 0.982; IFI = 0.991; SRMR = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Grazing tends to occur in a context of children's psychological distress, inappropriate children eating habits, and restrictive parental feeding practices. These variables should be addressed for the improvement of healthy eating habits and in weight-loss interventions for children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
PURPOSE: Grazing is a problematic eating behavior linked with poor weight loss outcomes, disordered eating psychopathology, and psychological distress in the adult population. However, no study assessed this behavior in children. Childhood is an important time frame for the development and maintenance of healthy eating habits, which can be influenced by children's psychological state, eating habits, and parental practices. This study investigates the associations between grazing behavior in children and children's psychological variables (anxiety, depression and withdrawn symptoms, body image dissatisfaction), children eating habits, and parental feeding practices. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 330 primary school students (6-10 years old) and their parents completed measures assessing children's grazing, anxiety/depression and withdrawn symptoms, body image dissatisfaction, children eating habits and style, and parental feeding practices. RESULTS: The path analysis tested showed that more restrictive parental feeding practices, inappropriate children eating habits, children's anxiety/depression symptoms, and body image dissatisfaction were associated with increased grazing scores (CMIN = 12.679; DF = 11; p = 0.315; RMSEA = 0.025; CFI = 0.990; NFI = 0.935; TLI = 0.982; IFI = 0.991; SRMR = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Grazing tends to occur in a context of children's psychological distress, inappropriate children eating habits, and restrictive parental feeding practices. These variables should be addressed for the improvement of healthy eating habits and in weight-loss interventions for children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
Authors: Eva M Conceição; James E Mitchell; Paulo P P Machado; Ana R Vaz; Ana Pinto-Bastos; Sofia Ramalho; Isabel Brandão; Joana Botelho Simões; Marta de Lourdes; Ana Catarina Freitas Journal: Appetite Date: 2017-07-13 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Eva M Conceição; James E Mitchell; Scott G Engel; Paulo P P Machado; Kathryn Lancaster; Stephen A Wonderlich Journal: Surg Obes Relat Dis Date: 2014-05-15 Impact factor: 4.734
Authors: Norman A Poole; Ashraf Al Atar; Dammayanthi Kuhanendran; Louise Bidlake; Alberic Fiennes; Sara McCluskey; Stephen Nussey; Gal Bano; John F Morgan Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Eva M Conceição; Marta de Lourdes; Ana Pinto-Bastos; Ana Rita Vaz; Isabel Brandão; Sofia Ramalho Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2018-04-17 Impact factor: 4.861