PARENTING PRACTICES AND THE CHILD'S EATING BEHAVIOR

Objective: to investigate the association between the parenting practices and the child's eating behavior. Method: a cross-sectional study, conducted with 368 children aged from one to five years old, registered in the Family Health Strategy units of the urban area of the municipality of Divinópolis-MG. An anthropometric assessment was performed to classify the children's nutritional status. Information was collected from January to September 2019 referring to demographic and socioeconomic data, as well as to lifestyle, health status, diabetes, parenting practices, and children's eating behavior. The child's eating behavior was assessed by means of a food frequency questionnaire, where the daily consumption of ultra-processed foods was estimated. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between parenting practices and the child's eating behavior, with a significance level of 5%. Results: greater consumption of ultra-processed foods was identified when the parents used physical force (p<0.018), reward for eating (p<0.002), and food restriction (p<0.011) practices. A negative association with the consumption of ultra-processed foods was evidenced when the parents provided guidance for healthy eating (p<0.006), authoritative monitoring (p<0.017), and positive reinforcement of the children's behavior that is considered adequate (p<0.046). Conclusion: the results of this study evidenced that the parenting practices were associated with the children's eating behavior. Therefore, research studies on the determinants of this behavior are recommended.