The relationship between maternal child-feeding practices and overweight in Hmong preschool children

Objective: Maternal child-feeding practices have been linked to overweight in several studies. Overweight is a prevalent condition in Hmong preschool children in the United States, therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal child-feeding attitudes and practices were associated with overweight in Hmong preschool children. Design: The Child-Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) was revised and administered to Hmong mothers with normal-weight and overweight children. Setting: Women, Infant, and Children Supplemental Food Program (WIC) clinics and community centers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Participants: Hmong mothers of normal-weight (n=45) and overweight (n=35) children. Main Outcome Measures: Relationships between maternal perceptions of child's weight, practices in child feeding, including monitoring, restriction, and pressure to eat, and overweight status in children. Results: No association was found between maternal attitudes and practices in child feeding and body mass index (BMI) of the child except for mother's perception of her child's weight. Mother's perception of her child's weight was also associated with maternal restriction of certain foods. Mother's education and children's weight status were weakly positively associated. Mothers with more education tended to be younger and to work outside the home. Conclusion: The lack of a relationship between maternal child-feeding practices and children's weight status may be due to factors such as mother's education, role of other caregivers, and cultural factors.