Eating habits of children: Analysis of parental influence/HABITOS ALIMENTARES DE CRIANCAS: ANALISE DA INFLUENCIA PARENTAL

• Published in: Revista brasileira de obesidade, nutrição e emagrecimento Vol. 17; no. 111; p. 675
• Main Authors: Nascimento, Elen Ratuchnei do, Pinheiro, Debora Fernandes, Kosak, Josieli Maria, Rosa, Patricia Amancio da, Schmitt, Vania
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do Exercicio. IBPEFEX 01-11-2023
• ISSN: 1981-9919; 1981-9919

Objective: To evaluate the influence of parents on the formation of eating habits of preschool and school-age children. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational research, with a quantitative exploratory approach. The study population consisted of children aged between 2 and 10 years. Two questionnaires were applied, the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) and the Parent Mealtime Action Scale (PMAS). Results: Participants were 53 children, with prevalence of mothers answering the questionnaires (91.8%). Regarding the nutritional status assessed by BMI, both parents (59.2%), and children (53%) are in eutrophy. Regarding the cfpq results, the highest mean value observed was in the domain "healthy eating orientation" (4,17). And the lowest average observed was in the domain "regulation of emotions/food as a reward" (1.58). Regarding the PMAS, the highest mean value observed was in the domain "limit for goodies" (2.77). And the lowest average observed was in the domain "model of consumption of goodies" (1,60). No differences were found in the mean values obtained in the two questionnaires considering the nutritional status of the child (p>0.05). Conclusion: Considering the results as a whole, there are positive and negative points. Because parents show concern with their children's diet and also impose limits on the consumption of unhealthy foods. On the other hand, most parents put pressure on children to consume certain foods. In general, the set of actions reflects positively on the nutritional status of both parents and children. Key words: Healthy eating. Child nutrition. Feeding behavior. Objetivo: Avaliar a influencia dos pais na formacao dos habitos alimentares de criancas em idade pre-escolar e escolar. Materiais e Metodos: Trata-se de pesquisa observacional transversal, com abordagem quantitativa de carater exploratorio. A populacao de estudo foi constituida por criancas com idade entre 2 e 10 anos. Foram aplicados dois questionarios, o Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) e o Parent Mealtime Action Scale (PMAS). Resultados: Participaram 53 criancas, com prevalencia de maes respondendo os questionarios (91,8%). Sobre o estado nutricional avaliado pelo IMC, tanto os pais (59,2%), quanto as criancas (53%) se encontram em eutrofia. Quanto aos resultados do CFPQ, o maior valor medio observado foi no dominio "orientacao de alimentacao saudavel" (4,17). E a menor media observada foi no dominio "regulacao de emocoes/alimentos como recompensa" (1,58). Quanto ao PMAS, o maior valor medio observado foi no dominio "limite para guloseimas" (2,77). E a menor media observada foi no dominio "modelo de consumo de guloseimas" (1,60). Nao foram encontradas diferencas nos valores medios obtidos nos dois questionarios considerando o estado nutricional da crianca (p>0,05). Conclusao: Tendo em vista os resultados como um todo, observam-se pontos positivos e negativos. Pois os pais demonstram preocupacao com a alimentacao dos filhos e impoem limites para o consumo de alimentos nao saudaveis. Por outro lado, grande parte dos pais colocam pressao sobre as criancas para que consumam determinados alimentos. De modo geral, o conjunto de acoes reflete de modo positivo no estado nutricional tanto dos pais, quanto dos filhos. Palavras-chave: Alimentacao saudavel. Nutricao da crianca. Comportamento alimentar.