• Assessment
    In general, what is the relationship between parental feeding strategies and childhood obesity?
    • Conclusion

      There are a number of feeding strategies that could potentially increase the risk of childhood obesity, however there is limited evidence supporting any consistent associations.

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    Are parental attitudes towards their own dietary intakes (Dietary restraint & disinhibition) associated with higher risk or prevalence of overweight among children?
    • Conclusion

      Parental dietary disinhibition and restraint may be related to a higher risk of overweight in children. Parents are likely to exert control over their children’s behavior in areas that are important and potentially problematic for themselves; however these studies have only been conducted among predominantly white, middle-class populations and therefore these results may not be applicable to other populations.

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    • Search Plan and Results: Family Influences: Parent Attitudes Toward their own Weight and Child Overweight 2004
       
    Is family functioning associated with higher risk or prevalence of overweight among children?
    • Conclusion

      Positive aspects of family functioning such as family cohesion, expressiveness, democratic style, parental support and cognitive stimulation at home may be protective against childhood overweight, while other negative aspects of family functioning such as lack of parental support or over-possessiveness may be associated with overweight in children. At present, however, it is challenging to compare studies because of different constructs used to assess family functioning.

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    • Search Plan and Results: Family Influences: Family Functioning 2004
       
    Is parental concern about or criticism of their child's weight status associated with higher risk or prevalence of overweight among children?
    • Conclusion

      Parental concern about child’s weight status may be associated with overweight in children; however a majority of the research has been conducted among non-Hispanic, white girls and may be applicable only to this population.

    • Grade: II
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    • Search Plan and Results: Family Influences: Parental Concern 2004
       
    Is parental control over child dietary intake associated with higher risk or prevalence of overweight among children?
    • Conclusion

      The parental child-feeding practice/feeding style, parental control over child’s dietary intake, does not appear to be associated with overweight in children.

    • Grade: II
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    • Search Plan and Results: Family Influences: Parent Control over Child Diet 2004
       
    Is parental encouragement/pressure to eat associated with higher risk or prevalence of overweight among children?
    • Conclusion

      Parental encouragement/ pressure to eat is not associated with increased overweight in children.

    • Grade: II
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    • Search Plan and Results: Family Influences: Pressure to Eat 2004
       
    Is parental restriction of highly palatable foods associated with higher risk or prevalence of overweight among children?
    • Conclusion

      Parental restriction of highly palatable foods may promote children’s desire for such forbidden foods, causing dysregulation of caloric intake and overeating. It appears that this child-feeding practice is associated with overweight in children; however a majority of the research has been conducted among non-Hispanic, white girls and may be applicable only to this population.

    • Grade: II
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    • Search Plan and Results: Family Influences: Parental Restriction on Child Diet 2004
       
    Is using food as a reward (Instrumental feeding) & emotional feeding associated with higher risk or prevalence of overweight among children?
    • Conclusion

      Based on limited evidence the parental child-feeding practices, Using food as a reward (Instrumental feeding) & Emotional Feeding, which may be considered a specific type of parental control over child’s dietary intake, do not appear to be associated with overweight in children.

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    • Search Plan and Results: Family Influences: Instrumental feeding 2003