Correlation of eating and feeding behaviors of preschool children with weight based on network analysis

YANG Zhe; ZHANG Hao; ZHANG Haiyue; LIANG Ying; WANG Yue; ZHANG Wei; ZHANG Yuhai; SHANG Lei

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0842

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (2) : 166-172. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0842

Original Articles

Correlation of eating and feeding behaviors of preschool children with weight based on network analysis

YANG Zhe¹, ZHANG Hao², ZHANG Haiyue¹, LIANG Ying¹, WANG Yue¹, ZHANG Wei¹, ZHANG Yuhai¹, SHANG Lei¹

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Abstract

Objective To explore the correlation of dietary behaviors and feeding behaviors with weight among preschool children using network analysis, and to identify key dietary and feeding behaviors that affect children′s weight. Methods Between January and July 2021, 5 to 10 kindergartens were selected from each of the seven prefecture-level cities in Shaanxi Province.A total of 9 629 the primary caregivers of preschool children aged 3 - 6 years were surveyed to assess dietary behaviors of preschool children and feeding behaviors of caregivers. The R software was used to construct a network of dietary behaviors, feeding behaviors and weight, and key behaviors were identified based on centrality indices such as strength, closeness, and betweenness of the network. Results Compared with children of normal weight, underweight children had higher scores for coercive feeding, unhealthy eating habits, overeating response, and emotional eating, while overweight and obese children hadsignificantly higher scores for weight concern, food responsiveness, and emotional eating(P<0.05). Network analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between responsive feeding and restriction of dietary content among feeding behaviors(r=0.45), and a negative correlation between unhealthy eating habits and initiative eating among dietary behaviors(r=-0.27). Emotional eating among dietary behaviors was positively correlated with weight concern among feeding behaviors(r=0.22). Children′s body mass index(BMI) was positively correlated with weight concern(r=0.14) and negatively correlated with overeating response(r=-0.10). The key behaviors in the network of dietary behaviors, feeding behaviors, and weight among preschool children included responsive feeding, unhealthy eating habits, and initiative eating. Conclusions Dietary behaviors and feeding behaviors among preschool children have a strong correlation with weight, with responsive feeding, unhealthy eating habits, and initiative eating being the key feeding and dietary behaviors that affect children′s weight. Developing effective intervention measures targeting these key behaviors is of great significance for promoting healthy growth and preventing obesity and underweight issues in preschool children.

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eating behavior / feeding behavior / weight / preschool children / network analysis / obesity

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YANG Zhe, ZHANG Hao, ZHANG Haiyue, LIANG Ying, WANG Yue, ZHANG Wei, ZHANG Yuhai, SHANG Lei. Correlation of eating and feeding behaviors of preschool children with weight based on network analysis[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2025, 33(2): 166-172 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0842

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