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Abstract

<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Children's eating behaviors influence weight, but the relationships among children's eating behaviors, caregiver feeding styles, and modifying maternal and child factors remain unclear.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>This study aimed to examine the associations between ) child eating behaviors and body mass index (BMI) -scores, and ) caregiver feeding style and child eating behaviors.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>Data from 290 Hispanic mother-child dyads (children aged 3-9 y) in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Family Lifestyle Outcomes Research cohort were analyzed cross-sectionally. Child eating behaviors, caregiver feeding styles, and child BMI -scores were assessed. Linear regression examined: ) child eating behaviors and BMI -scores, and ) caregiver feeding styles and child eating behaviors. Models adjusted for maternal marital status, prepregnancy BMI, child health, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program status, poverty level, and study site.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Higher child food responsiveness [ = 0.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01, 0.32] and enjoyment of food ( = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.33) were associated with higher BMI -scores, while greater satiety responsiveness ( = -0.23; 95% CI: -0.42, -0.04) was associated with lower BMI -score. Authoritarian feeding style was associated with a lower enjoyment of food ( = -0.72; 95% CI: -1.06, -0.38), greater food fussiness ( = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.76), greater satiety responsiveness ( = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.84), and greater slowness in eating ( = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.76). An indulgent feeding style was associated with a lower desire to drink ( = -0.52; 95% CI: -0.90, -0.13), lower satiety responsiveness ( = -0.36; 95% CI: -0.65, -0.10), and lower emotional undereating ( = -0.55, 95% CI: -0.84, -0.25). An uninvolved feeding style was associated with lower emotional undereating ( = -0.63; 95% CI: -0.97, -0.29).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>Child food approach behaviors correlate with higher BMI. Findings on caregiver feeding styles and child eating behaviors show complex, sometimes unexpected patterns, highlighting the need for further interdisciplinary research.</p>

Year of Publication
2026
Journal
Current developments in nutrition
Volume
10
Issue
1
Number of Pages
107611
Date Published
01/2026
ISSN Number
2475-2991
DOI
10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.107611
Alternate Journal
Curr Dev Nutr
PMCID
PMC12794496
PMID
41532144
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