Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Authoritative Feeding Behaviors To Reduce Child Bmi Through Online Interventions, Marilyn Frenn, Jessica E. Pruszynski, Holly Felzer, Jiannan Zhang

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose.

The purpose of the study was to examine the feasibility and initial efficacies of parent- and/or child-focused online interventions and variables correlated with child body mass index percentile change.

Design and Methods.

A feasibility and cluster randomized controlled pilot study was used.

Results.

Recruitment was more effective at parent–teacher conferences compared with when materials were sent home with fifth- to eighth-grade culturally diverse students. Retention was 90% for students and 62–74% for parents. Authoritative parent feeding behaviors were associated with lower child body mass index. A larger study is warranted.

Practice Implications.

Online approaches may provide a feasible option …

What Can Parents Do To Reduce Youth Obesity? An Initial Study With A Diverse Sample, Marilyn Frenn, Amy Heinrich, Claire Schmidt Dohmen, Jessica E. Pruszynski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The body mass index (BMI) of diverse, low-income fifth grade students (n = 36) was regressed on physical activity (Child Adolescent Activity Log), percentage dietary fat (Food Habits Questionnaire), and the Food/Activity Parenting Practices Questionnaire. The model explained 50% of the variance in student BMI, adjusted R² = .50, F (4, 19) = 6.84, p = .001. Students accurately perceived their weight status. Students' perception of parenting strategies, along with dietary fat, was significantly associated with their BMI. Parent's (n = 14) BMI, not the child's, was associated with the strategies they used. Three parents tested an …