Introduction: According to a national survey, 10-17 years old with any parent born outside the US have a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) than children with parent(s) born in the US. Therefore, children of Black immigrant parents living in the US are at elevated risk of being overweight or obese, thus increasing their risks of morbidity and mortality as they age. Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's nutrition through their food parenting practices, defined as behaviors or actions that affect the child's dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine food parenting practices among a sample of Black immigrant mothers living in Metro Atlanta using a modified Comprehensive Home Environment Survey (CHES). Methods: Black immigrant mothers with children 2-19 years old were primarily recruited via social media, and 103 of them completed the 44-questions CHES. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and linear regression analyses were used to analyze the survey data in SPSS statistical analysis software. Results: Based on survey findings, mothers used all three food parenting practices, coercive control, structure, and autonomy support or promotion. However, they used structure the most, in feeding their children, which directly influence mothers’ reports of their children’s dietary behavior and habits. Furthermore, education, income, age of migration, mother’s concern for child’s weight, and child’s sex were significantly associated with the participants’ food parenting practices. Specifically, mothers with more income, more education, or who migrated before age 14 were more likely to have better meals and snack routines and healthy food available and accessible. Also, female children were more likely to be involved in meal planning compared to male children, and mothers who migrated at age 14 or older were more likely to model unhealthy food behaviors. Conclusion: The results of this study provide a baseline for the food parenting practices of Black immigrant mothers in the US and important factors (i.e., income, education, and age of migration) that influence their children’s dietary behavior. These findings can help inform diet-related disease prevention efforts in children like this Black immigrant population.

Introduction: Children of Black immigrant parents living in the US are at elevated risk of being overweight or obese, thus increasing their risks of morbidity and mortality as they age. Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's nutrition through their food parenting practices, defined as behaviors or actions that affect the child's dietary habits. Three aims guided this study: (1) To examine food parenting practices among a sample of Black immigrant mothers living in Metro Atlanta using a modified Comprehensive Home Environment Survey (CHES); (2) To assess maternal knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, acculturation, and modeling in relation to food parenting practices among a sample of participants surveyed in Aim1 using focus groups; and (3) To refine the proposed Influences of Food Parenting Practices on BMI model (Model) using data collected in Aims 1 and 2. Methods: 103 Black immigrant mothers completed the CHES and 30 of them participated in four focus groups. Univariate, bivariate, and explanatory analysis was used for the survey data, and the qualitative data analysis was thematic. Results: Based on survey findings, mothers used structure the most in feeding their children, which directly influence mothers’ reports of their children’s dietary behavior and habits. Education, income, age of migration, mother’s concern for child’s weight, and child’s sex were significantly associated with the participants’ food parenting practices. Specifically, mothers with more income, more education, or who migrated before age 14 were more likely to have healthy food available and better meals routine. Focus group data analysis revealed seven major themes and six subthemes, where acculturation influenced mothers’ food parenting practices greatly. Since migrating to the US, some mothers’ nutrition changed in positive (e.g., eating more fruits) and negative ways (e.g., snacking more) because of schedules, cost, and access. Survey and focus group findings were instrumental in refining the Model by adding 5 new relationships to the proposed model. Conclusion: The results of this study provide a baseline for the food parenting practices of Black immigrant mothers in the US, and important factors (i.e., knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, acculturation, and sociodemographic) that influence their children’s dietary behavior.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Introduction: Feeding difficulty is a commonly behavior present in preschoolers and an important cause of intake monotony. It is a set of behaviors related to food refusal. More serious cases may persist beyond the pre-school age and may result in damage of child growth and health. Objective: To investigate the feeding difficulty among preschoolers and the associated factors. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study carried out with parents and children aged 4 to 6 enrolled in private and philanthropic pre-schools of Aracaju, Sergipe. Feeding difficulty was assessed through a specific question ("Does your child have difficulty eating certain types of food?") and food refusal aspects through the Food Avoidance sub scales of Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ): Food Fussiness, Satiety Responsiveness, Slowness in Eating, and Emotional Undereating. A semi-structured questionnaire containing data on sociodemographic conditions, birth conditions, food history and aspects related to child feeding behavior was applied. The evaluation of parental feeding practices was done through questions of the 5 sub-scales of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire. The children nutritional status was evaluated by the BMI index for age. Logistic and linear regression models were used to evaluate the factors associated with feeding difficulty and aspects of food refusal. Results: A total of 730 preschoolers, 50.3% female and mean age 62.3 (SD = 8.1) months were evaluated. The prevalence of feeding difficulty was 34.1%. Children with eating difficulties presented aversion to most of the food / food groups evaluated, lower BMI for age, parents with a history of feeding difficulty, higher frequency of repeated exposure to new foods, use of food rewards by parents, children’s control about the food and less guidance relation on healthy habits. Regarding the evaluation of the aspects of infant food refusal, there were significant positive associations with higher parental pressure to eat, and negative with nutritional status. The greater control of the feeding by the child presented a relation with the Food Fussiness, Satiety Responsiveness and Emotional Undereating. While breastfeeding had a protective effect for Satiety Responsiveness and Emotional Undereating, a higher level of maternal schooling was a risk factor. Factors such as the use of food rewards and parental antecedents of feeding difficulties were also associated with aspects of food refusal. Conclusion: Feeding difficulty is a frequent behavior among preschool children evaluated, with food refusal aspects especially associated with parental feeding practices and nutritional status. In this way, the promotion of a structured family environment with less coercive parental practices can be a useful strategy for prevention and control of these behaviors in childhood. / Introdução: A dificuldade alimentar é um comportamento comumente encontrado em pré-escolares e uma importante causa da monotonia alimentar. Trata-se de um conjunto de comportamentos relacionados à recusa alimentar. Casos de maior gravidade podem persistir além da idade pré-escolar e acarretar prejuízos ao crescimento e saúde infantil. Objetivo: Investigar as dificuldades alimentares entre pré-escolares e seus fatores associados. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional de caráter transversal realizado com pais e crianças de 4 a 6 anos matriculadas em escolas de educação infantil privadas e filantrópicas do munícipio de Aracaju, Sergipe. Avaliou-se a dificuldade alimentar por meio de uma pergunta específica (“Seu filho tem dificuldade para comer certos tipos de alimentos?”) e os aspectos da recusa alimentar por meio das sub escalas de Desinteresse pela Comida do Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ): Seletividade Alimentar, Resposta à Saciedade, Ingestão Lenta e Subingestão Emocional. Aplicou-se um questionário semiestruturado contendo dados sobre as condições sociodemográficas, condições de nascimento, história alimentar e aspectos relacionados ao comportamento alimentar infantil. A avaliação das práticas alimentares parentais foi feita por meio de questões de 5 sub escalas do Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire. O estado nutricional das crianças foi avaliado pelo IMC para idade. Modelos de regressão logística e linear foram realizados para avaliar os fatores associados com a dificuldade alimentar e aos aspectos da recusa alimentar. Resultados: Avaliaram-se 730 pré-escolares, 50,3% pertencentes ao sexo feminino e com média de idade de 62,3 (DP= 8,1) meses. A prevalência da dificuldade alimentar foi de 34,1%. Crianças com dificuldades alimentares apresentaram aversão à maioria dos alimentos/grupos alimentares avaliados, menores valores do IMC para idade, pais com histórico de dificuldade alimentar, maior frequência de exposição repetida a alimentos novos, maior uso de recompensas alimentares pelos pais, maior controle das crianças sobre a própria alimentação e menor orientação dos pais sobre alimentação saudável. Quanto à avaliação dos aspectos da recusa alimentar infantil, constataram-se significativas associações positivas com a maior pressão dos pais para comer e negativas com o estado nutricional. O maior controle da alimentação pela criança apresentou relação com a Seletividade Alimentar, Resposta à Saciedade e Subingestão Emocional. Enquanto que a amamentação teve efeito protetor para a Resposta à Saciedade e Subingestão Emocional, o maior nível de escolaridade materna foi um fator de risco. Fatores como uso de recompensas alimentares e antecedentes parentais de dificuldades alimentares também estiveram associados a aspectos da recusa alimentar. Conclusão: A dificuldade alimentar é um comportamento frequente entre os pré-escolares avaliados, sendo os aspectos da recusa alimentar especialmente associados às práticas parentais e estado nutricional infantil. Desta forma, a promoção de um ambiente familiar estruturado com práticas parentais menos coercitivas pode ser uma estratégia útil de prevenção e controle destes comportamentos na infância. / São Cristóvão, SE