Stressed over their kids’ fussy eating habits, parents indulge in non-responsive feeding practices – such as pressuring or rewarding for eating, according to a study.”These practices can reinforce fussy eating, increase preferences for unhealthy foods, and lead to excessive weight gain,” said lead author Holly Harris of Queensland University of Technology. “Understanding why parents respond unproductively to fussy eating is an important step to educate on healthy practices.”Disadvantaged families are found to have higher levels of fussy eating and greater use of non-responsive feeding practices, but there is little understanding of what situations prompt this behaviour.The study found that while both mothers’ and fathers’ reports of fussy eating were consistent, mothers reported higher levels of concern. Research indicates gender assumptions place greater responsibility for feeding and the child’s nutrition on mothers.Mothers are also more sensitive to a child’s verbal and nonverbal cues. They are therefore more distressed by the crying, tantrums, and gagging as a child refuses food. Feeding has a significant emotional component for mothers that may contribute to their using nonresponsive feeding behaviors out of concern for the child’s welfare.”Fathers more frequently used persuasive feeding practices, but their behavior was not driven by parental concern,” said Dr. Harris. “A possible explanation may be the fathers focus on practical matters such as ending mealtime after a long day at work. Acknowledging and addressing the underlying causes for non-responsive feeding practices used by both parents may improve responses to fussy eating.”Dr. Harris suggests that health professionals tasked with advising parents of fussy eaters might consider providing reassurance, education, and alternative behavioral strategies to support children’s exposure to a wide variety of healthy foods.The study has been published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
