Caregivers' feeding behaviour, children's eating behaviour and weight status among children of preschool age in China

Background Childhood overweight and obesity have become significant public health challenges worldwide. The present study aimed to investigate whether caregivers' feeding behaviour and children's eating behaviour were associated with the weight status of preschool children in China. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 912 caregivers of preschool children from April to July 2016. Caregivers' feeding behaviours were assessed by the Chinese Preschooler's Caregiver Feeding Behaviour Scale. Children's eating behaviours were evaluated using the Chinese Preschooler's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. After controlling for demographic characteristics, multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between caregivers' feeding behaviour, children's eating behaviour and children's body mass index (BMI). Results The results showed that weight concerns on the part of caregivers (beta = 0.53) and food responsiveness on the part of children (beta = 0.93) were positively correlated with children's BMI, whereas caregivers' responsibility for feeding (beta = -0.68) and children's external eating (beta = -0.53) were negatively correlated with BMI. Among caregiver feeding behaviours, weight concerns [odds ratio (OR) =4.54, p < 0.001] and behaviour-restricted feeding (OR =0.29, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with children's BMI. A child's food responsiveness (OR =4.04, p < 0.001) was also positively correlated with his/her BMI, whereas the child's satiety responsiveness (OR =0.42, p < 0.001) and emotional eating habits (OR =0.56, p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with overweight/obesity status. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that children's eating behaviour and caregivers' feeding behaviour were associated with weight status among preschool children in China. Behaviour interventions on caregivers and their children may prevent or reduce weight problems in preschool children.