Parental control in children’s overweight and obesity prevention

Introduction. Proper nutrition is one of the fundamental factors necessary for the healthy growth and development of children.

The aim of this study was to examine the role of overt and covert parental control in the formation of excess body mass index (BMI) (overweight or obesity) in children.

Materials and methods. The study included 135 residents of the Republic of Bashkortostan who had 7-11 year children with a z-score for BMI of at least -1 (optimal body weight, overweight, obesity). The collection of primary data was carried out in 2019 through a questionnaire. Statistical processing of the data was performed using logistic regression analysis, where the presence of excess BMI (overweight or obesity) in a child was considered as a dependent variable, and 25 questions characterizing the use of overt and covert parental control over nutrition were considered as covariates (Birch L.L. et al., 2001 (Child Feeding Questionnaire); Ogden J., Reynolds R., and Smith A., 2006).

Results. According to the data obtained, the risk of exceeding BMI in children increased if parents offered them their favourite food in exchange for good behaviour (overt control – restriction-reward) (B=0.361, p=0.016), and decreased if parents refrained from buying sweets and chips for home (covert control) (B=-0.374, p=0.033).

Conclusion. Parents' use of covert controls in the form of abstaining from buying sweets and chips at home, as well as refusal of such explicit controls as using a child's favorite food in exchange for good behavior, make a significant contribution to preventing the formation of overweight and obesity in children.