Parenting and Feeding Styles and Parents' Body Mass Index as Predictors of Body Mass Index and Disordered Eating Behaviors in Mexican Children.

Problems associated with eating and weight in childhood are complex and have a multifactorial etiology. In recent years, childhood obesity has become a global public health problem with short- and long-term physical, psychological, and social health consequences. This is a cross-sectional study that evaluates the relationship between parenting styles, eating styles, and parents' body mass index (BMI) and their children's body mass index (BMI) and disordered eating behaviors (DEBs). A sample of 372 dyads of mothers or fathers (mean age = 38 (SD = 8.8)) and boys or girls (mean age = 8.9 years (SD = 0.31)) was used. Path analysis found that an authoritarian parenting style had a significant positive relationship with food approach (β = 0.36, < 0.001) and food avoidance factors (β = 0.23, < 0.001). Parental depression was positively associated with food approach (β = 0.20, 0.001) and food avoidance factors (β = 0.19, 0.001). Food approach factors significantly predicted compensatory behaviors (β = 0.14, 0.001). Lastly, both binge eating (β = 0.10, 0.05) and compensatory behaviors (β = 0.31, 0.001) showed significant positive relationships with children's BMI. A clearer understanding of the relationships among these factors could facilitate earlier and more effective interventions targeting nutrition- and weight-related issues.