Examining the Relationship Between Parenting Behaviours and Childhood Snacking
Increasing Rates of Childhood Overweight and Obesity
A recent review has explored the connection between parenting practices and childhood snacking, a factor in the rising rates of childhood overweight and obesity over recent decades. Various contributors to this trend include physical activity levels, food availability, and parenting styles. Research indicates that snacking can significantly increase total caloric intake, leading to weight gain.
Inconsistent Findings in Snacking Behaviour Studies
Previous studies investigating the factors influencing snacking behaviour employed diverse methodologies, resulting in inconsistent outcomes. Definitions of snacking vary widely; some studies classify it as any food consumed between meals, while others focus specifically on unhealthy snacks such as chips, candy, or sugary beverages. It is established that snacks can account for 25% to 33% of the total energy intake in children, underscoring the need for comprehensive research in this area.
Understanding Food Parenting
The concept of “food parenting” encompasses both feeding practices—specific strategies employed to feed a child, such as pressuring them to eat or offering choices—and feeding styles, which reflect broader attitudes towards food. Current literature suggests that parents must balance setting limits and providing healthy options while respecting children’s individual food preferences and appetite regulation.
Types of Food Parenting
Food parenting can be categorized into four main types:
– **Coercive Control**: Involves restricting food access or using food as a reward, often linked to increased energy intake and poorer diet quality. Young children frequently encounter snack foods used as behavioural management tools in this context.
– **Permissive Practices**: Characterized by providing comfort through food and lacking rules or limits regarding food intake. This approach correlates with excessive energy consumption and higher body mass indices in children.
– **Structure**: Involves establishing routines and ensuring the availability of healthy foods.
– **Autonomy Support**: Encompasses behaviours such as role modeling and positive reinforcement.
Researchers theorize that these food parenting styles may cultivate healthy eating habits in children, although empirical research in this domain remains limited.
Evaluating Food Parenting Practices and Child Snacking
A systematic review published in the *International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity* assesses existing research on the association between food parenting practices and childhood snacking. This review, covering literature from 1980 to 2017, is the first to systematically evaluate food parenting within the context of snacking behaviours.
Study Overview
The review includes 47 studies that examined snacking or related behaviours in children aged 2 to 18 years, alongside general parenting styles and choices regarding child snacking. Definitions of snacking were consistent in this context, focusing on foods and beverages consumed between meals, specifically identifying snack foods as energy-dense and nutrient-poor items.
Notably, nearly half of the included studies were published in the past five years, with 90% originating from four western countries: the United States, Netherlands, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The majority of participants were white, college-educated mothers who self-reported on their parenting styles and their children’s snacking habits.
Findings on Feeding Practices and Snacking
The review revealed no universal trends regarding parenting styles and snacking behaviours. However, restrictive feeding practices and the presence of unhealthy foods were consistently associated with increased snacking among children. Few studies focused on autonomy support or permissive behaviours.
Research indicates that food restriction correlates with higher body mass; this relationship appears complex and likely bidirectional. For instance, parents of children with elevated body mass may restrict food in an attempt to promote health. The availability of unhealthy foods at home was positively linked to increased snack intake in 10 out of 11 studies. Insufficient studies examined the impact of role modeling on childhood snacking.
Limitations in Current Research
Several common limitations were identified in the existing literature, including a lack of consensus on definitions and methodologies. Variations in defining snacks—either by food type or timing—complicate findings. Many studies categorized snacks as “junk food,” overlooking the distinction between healthy and unhealthy snacking.
Recommendations for Future Research
The authors of the review provided several recommendations for future studies:
– **Focus on Parenting Specific to Snacking**: Although literature outlines beneficial and detrimental food parenting practices, there is inadequate evidence addressing snacking specifically. Future research should explore how positive parenting behaviours can inform public health interventions.
– **Increase Diversity in Perspectives**: Many studies overlooked the roles of fathers or male caregivers, creating a significant gap in understanding. Additional research is necessary to explore these dynamics across various demographics, including socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographic location.
– **Clarify Snacking Context and Purposes**: The current lack of a standardized definition of snacking hinders understanding. Investigating the context in which snacks are provided—such as for rewards, health benefits, or hunger satisfaction—could reveal important insights.
– **Standardize Terminology**: The authors advocate for a unified definition of “snack foods” to encompass all foods consumed outside of regular meals, including both nutrient-rich and poor options, while excluding junk food served with meals.
Conclusion
This review represents a pioneering effort to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between food parenting and childhood snacking behaviours. Given the universal nature of snacking among children and the escalating issue of childhood obesity, understanding parental influence on this behaviour is crucial. Future research is essential to bridge existing gaps in the literature.
Written by Lisa Borsellino, B.Sc.
Reference: Blaine, Rachel E., et al. “Food parenting and child snacking: a systematic review.” *International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity* 14.1 (2017): 146.