Mothers and CareGivers Investing in Children

Overview

The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years but has begun to level off in recent years. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. The current study seeks to: 1) evaluate the extent to which mothers and other important caregivers affect their mothers' parenting; 2) examine whether an intervention aimed at improving diet quality and enhancing responsive feeding to improves parental responsivity and feeding behavior and infants' weight trajectories over time; 3) examine the effects of early life feeding and caregiver sensitivity on health and development; and 4) examine feasibility of food distribution along with the feeding intervention.

The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years, but has begun to level off in recent years. Children from minority groups may be disproportionately affected, such that Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children have greater weight for recumbent length compared to White children. Similarly, socioeconomic status (SES) may affect child weight status. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. Genetics are a factor in determining weight status, but parents are largely responsible for regulating children's dietary environments. Grandparents increasingly provide care for their grandchildren, yet few studies have examined grandparent involvement or the role that grandparents or other significant caregivers play in feeding the child. The objective of the current study is two-fold: 1) to evaluate the extent to which mothers and other caregivers affect mothers' parenting surrounding feeding their infant, beginning when the infant is first introduced to solid foods; and 2) to examine whether an intervention aimed at providing both mothers and and other important caregivers with hands-on training regarding healthy foods and responsive and sensitive feeding behaviors improves mothers' and other caregivers' responsive and sensitive behaviors and infants' weight trajectories over time. The researchers will collect both self-report data on diet, child temperament, mothers and caregiver mental health, stress and support. Observational assessments will be obtained to code co-caregiver behavior and caregiver responsiveness during feeding.