Research shows effective parental approaches to managing children’s avid eating behaviours
A recent study, published in the journal Appetite, provides an in-depth exploration of how parents cope with their preschool-aged children’s intense eating behaviours, which are often characterised by an elevated responsiveness to food cues. These eating patterns are closely associated with risks of overweight and obesity in children, making the understanding of parental experiences and strategies essential for developing tailored interventions aimed at promoting healthy eating habits.
The research highlights the significance of recognising eating behavioural patterns in children rather than focusing solely on individual eating behaviours. Through the use of Latent Profile Analysis, researchers have identified various eating profiles among preschoolers. These profiles are typically marked by a pronounced enjoyment of food, emotional overeating, minimal fussiness, reduced sensitivity to satiety signals, and a rapid pace of eating. Genetic factors play a substantial role in these appetitive traits, which are also influenced by environmental interactions, thereby affecting the expression of eating behaviours and the potential for obesity.
Parental feeding practices are pivotal in shaping these behaviours, with key practices involving coercive control, structured feeding, and the support of child autonomy. Qualitative research underscores the challenges parents face in managing feeding interactions, especially with children prone to obesity.
The study forms part of the “Appetite in Preschoolers: Producing Evidence for Tailoring Interventions Effectively” (APPETItE) programme. It adheres to pre-registration and qualitative research reporting guidelines, involving parents of 3-5-year-old children who exhibit these intense eating behaviours. A group of 15 parents participated, providing valuable insights through interviews conducted via video calls. Data collected included demographics, food security, and detailed eating behaviour profiles.
Thematic analysis was employed to inductively scrutinise the interview transcripts, with a focus on parental experiences. This process was rigorous, involving regular discussions and maintained reflexivity to ensure integrity in the analysis. The approach followed the systematic six-step process outlined by Braun and Clarke, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the feeding practices applicable to children with intense eating behaviours.
Four primary themes emerged from the analysis:
- Persistent Hunger: Parents noted their children’s continuous requests for food, with some perceiving this as a natural trait, while others expressed concern. Despite frequent eating, the level of satiety control varied among children, with some lacking a clear ‘stop button’.
- Duty of Parenthood: Parents expressed a strong sense of responsibility to keep their children sufficiently fed and to limit exposure to unhealthy foods. They employed various strategies to regulate food intake, focusing on health implications and setting boundaries.
- Instilling Healthy Habits: There was a concerted effort by parents to foster healthy lifelong eating patterns, provide balanced diets, and educate children on the impact of food on health. Monitoring of food intake throughout the day was common, alongside promoting healthier alternatives and encouraging children’s autonomy in food choices.
- Navigational Strategies: Parents described ‘picking their battles’ by establishing clear rules for eating times and occasionally using coercive feeding practices to alleviate personal stress. They balanced routine with flexibility, sometimes allowing children autonomy in food choices.
The research highlights the effectiveness of an authoritative feeding approach that blends control with warmth and responsiveness. However, some parents also resorted to emotional feeding and the use of food as a reward, which could reinforce intense eating behaviours.
Despite providing rich qualitative insights, the study’s findings are limited by a lack of diversity in the sample and potential self-selection bias, which may affect the generalisability of the results. Future research should incorporate objective measures, such as body mass index, to enhance understanding.
In conclusion, this study illuminates the complex dynamics of feeding children with intense eating behaviours and advocates for responsive, nuanced approaches to foster healthy dietary habits.