Parental beliefs about portion size, not children's own beliefs, predict child BMI

C. Potter; D. Ferriday; R. L. Griggs; J. P. Hamilton-Shield; P. J. Rogers; J. M. Brunstrom

doi:10.1111/ijpo.12218

Parental beliefs about portion size, not children's own beliefs, predict child BMI

C. Potter^*, D. Ferriday, R. L. Griggs, J. P. Hamilton-Shield, P. J. Rogers, J. M. Brunstrom

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

267 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background

Increases in portion size are thought by many to promote obesity in children. However, this relationship remains unclear. Here, we explore the extent to which a child's BMI is predicted both by parental beliefs about their child's ideal and maximum portion size and/or by the child's own beliefs.

Methods

Parent–child (5–11 years) dyads (N = 217) were recruited from a randomized controlled trial (n = 69) and an interactive science centre (n = 148). For a range of main meals, parents estimated their child's ‘ideal’ and ‘maximum tolerated’ portions. Children completed the same tasks.

Results

An association was found between parents' beliefs about their child's ideal (β = .34, p < .001) and maximum tolerated (β = .30, p < .001) portions, and their child's BMI. By contrast, children's self-reported ideal (β = .02, p = .718) and maximum tolerated (β = −.09, p = .214) portions did not predict their BMI. With increasing child BMI, parents' estimations aligned more closely with their child's own selected portions.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that when a parent selects a smaller portion for their child than their child self-selects, then the child is less likely to be obese. Therefore, public health measures to prevent obesity might include instructions to parents on appropriate portions for young children.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	232-238
Number of pages	7
Journal	Pediatric Obesity
Volume	13
Issue number	4
Early online date	4 Apr 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12218
Publication status	Published - Apr 2018

Structured keywords

Brain and Behaviour
Nutrition and Behaviour
Physical and Mental Health

Keywords

BMI
Children
Eating behaviour
Obesity
Parental feeding practices
Portion size

Access to Document

10.1111/ijpo.12218

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1 Finished
1 Active

NIHR BRC Nutrition
Ness, A. R.
1/04/17 → 31/03/22
Project: Research, Parent
Understanding eating topography: The key to reducing energy intake in humans?
Brunstrom, J. M.
31/07/12 → 30/01/16
Project: Research

Professor Jeffrey Michael Brunstrom
- Jeff.Brunstrom@bristol.ac.uk
- School of Psychological Science - Professor of Experimental Psychology
- Bristol Neuroscience
Person: Academic , Member
Dr Danielle Ferriday
- Danielle.Ferriday@bristol.ac.uk
- School of Psychological Science - Lecturer in Experimental Psychology
Person: Academic

Cite this

@article{8830a8a20bcc426ca0ddbb8b739733b3,

title = "Parental beliefs about portion size, not children's own beliefs, predict child BMI",

abstract = "BackgroundIncreases in portion size are thought by many to promote obesity in children. However, this relationship remains unclear. Here, we explore the extent to which a child's BMI is predicted both by parental beliefs about their child's ideal and maximum portion size and/or by the child's own beliefs.MethodsParent–child (5–11 years) dyads (N = 217) were recruited from a randomized controlled trial (n = 69) and an interactive science centre (n = 148). For a range of main meals, parents estimated their child's {\textquoteleft}ideal{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}maximum tolerated{\textquoteright} portions. Children completed the same tasks.ResultsAn association was found between parents' beliefs about their child's ideal (β = .34, p < .001) and maximum tolerated (β = .30, p < .001) portions, and their child's BMI. By contrast, children's self-reported ideal (β = .02, p = .718) and maximum tolerated (β = −.09, p = .214) portions did not predict their BMI. With increasing child BMI, parents' estimations aligned more closely with their child's own selected portions.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that when a parent selects a smaller portion for their child than their child self-selects, then the child is less likely to be obese. Therefore, public health measures to prevent obesity might include instructions to parents on appropriate portions for young children.",

keywords = "BMI, Children, Eating behaviour, Obesity, Parental feeding practices, Portion size",

author = "C. Potter and D. Ferriday and Griggs, {R. L.} and Hamilton-Shield, {J. P.} and Rogers, {P. J.} and Brunstrom, {J. M.}",

year = "2018",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1111/ijpo.12218",

language = "English",

volume = "13",

pages = "232--238",

journal = "Pediatric Obesity",

issn = "2047-6310",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "4",

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T1 - Parental beliefs about portion size, not children's own beliefs, predict child BMI

AU - Potter, C.

AU - Ferriday, D.

AU - Griggs, R. L.

AU - Hamilton-Shield, J. P.

AU - Rogers, P. J.

AU - Brunstrom, J. M.

PY - 2018/4

Y1 - 2018/4

N2 - BackgroundIncreases in portion size are thought by many to promote obesity in children. However, this relationship remains unclear. Here, we explore the extent to which a child's BMI is predicted both by parental beliefs about their child's ideal and maximum portion size and/or by the child's own beliefs.MethodsParent–child (5–11 years) dyads (N = 217) were recruited from a randomized controlled trial (n = 69) and an interactive science centre (n = 148). For a range of main meals, parents estimated their child's ‘ideal’ and ‘maximum tolerated’ portions. Children completed the same tasks.ResultsAn association was found between parents' beliefs about their child's ideal (β = .34, p < .001) and maximum tolerated (β = .30, p < .001) portions, and their child's BMI. By contrast, children's self-reported ideal (β = .02, p = .718) and maximum tolerated (β = −.09, p = .214) portions did not predict their BMI. With increasing child BMI, parents' estimations aligned more closely with their child's own selected portions.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that when a parent selects a smaller portion for their child than their child self-selects, then the child is less likely to be obese. Therefore, public health measures to prevent obesity might include instructions to parents on appropriate portions for young children.

AB - BackgroundIncreases in portion size are thought by many to promote obesity in children. However, this relationship remains unclear. Here, we explore the extent to which a child's BMI is predicted both by parental beliefs about their child's ideal and maximum portion size and/or by the child's own beliefs.MethodsParent–child (5–11 years) dyads (N = 217) were recruited from a randomized controlled trial (n = 69) and an interactive science centre (n = 148). For a range of main meals, parents estimated their child's ‘ideal’ and ‘maximum tolerated’ portions. Children completed the same tasks.ResultsAn association was found between parents' beliefs about their child's ideal (β = .34, p < .001) and maximum tolerated (β = .30, p < .001) portions, and their child's BMI. By contrast, children's self-reported ideal (β = .02, p = .718) and maximum tolerated (β = −.09, p = .214) portions did not predict their BMI. With increasing child BMI, parents' estimations aligned more closely with their child's own selected portions.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that when a parent selects a smaller portion for their child than their child self-selects, then the child is less likely to be obese. Therefore, public health measures to prevent obesity might include instructions to parents on appropriate portions for young children.

KW - BMI

KW - Children

KW - Eating behaviour

KW - Obesity

KW - Parental feeding practices

KW - Portion size

U2 - 10.1111/ijpo.12218

DO - 10.1111/ijpo.12218

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

C2 - 28374550

AN - SCOPUS:85017402004

VL - 13

SP - 232

EP - 238

JO - Pediatric Obesity

JF - Pediatric Obesity

SN - 2047-6310

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ER -

Parental beliefs about portion size, not children's own beliefs, predict child BMI

Abstract

Structured keywords

Keywords

Access to Document

NIHR BRC Nutrition

Understanding eating topography: The key to reducing energy intake in humans?

Professor Jeffrey Michael Brunstrom

Dr Danielle Ferriday

Cite this