Controlling child feeding practices and child weight: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Controlling child feeding practices (restriction and pressure-to-eat) have been theorized to predict increased child weight status. However, mixed evidence has been found for this association within previous narrative reviews. The present study quantitatively examined the association between controlling feeding practices and child weight status and examine potential study-level and person-level moderators. PubMed, PsychINFO, and Cochrane databases were utilized. Studies examining the association of controlling child feeding practices and child weight were included. Data from 51 studies, with 17 431 parent-child dyads, were included. There was a small but significant association between restrictive child feeding practices and child weight (d= .22, 95% CI, .14 to .30). Restriction was significantly associated with higher child weight status. This association was significantly moderated by child age and household income. There was also a significant association between pressure-to-eat child feeding practices and child weight (d= -.30, 95% CI, -.38 to -.22). No significant moderators were identified. Pressure-to-eat was significantly associated with lower child weight status. There was a high degree of heterogeneity of effects between studies included in analyses. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the effect of controlling feeding on child weight over time.