AUTHOR=Jansen Elena , Naymik Marcus , Thapaliya Gita , Huentelman Matt , Beauchemin Jennifer , D'Sa Viren , Lewis Candace R. , Deoni Sean , RESONANCE consortium , Carnell Susan , Deoni Sean C. L. , D'Sa Viren , Koinis-Mitchell Daphne , Bruchhage Muriel , Volpe Alexandra , Beauchemin Jennifer , Wallace Caroline , Rogers John , Cano Rosa , Alpert Warren , Fernandes Jessica , Walsh Elizabeth , Rhodes Brittany , Huentelman Matthew , Lewis Candace , Both Matthew D. De , Naymik Marcus A. , Carnell Susan , Jansen Elena , Sadler Jennifer R. , Thapaliya Gita , Klepac-Ceraj Vanja , Bonham Kevin , LeBourgeois Monique , Mueller Hans Georg , Wang Jane-Ling , Zhu Changbo , Chen Yaqing , Braun Joseph TITLE=Parent-reported child appetite moderates relationships between child genetic obesity risk and parental feeding practices JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition VOLUME=10 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1174441 DOI=10.3389/fnut.2023.1174441 ISSN=2296-861X ABSTRACT=Background

Food parenting practices are associated with child weight. Such associations may reflect the effects of parents' practices on children's food intake and weight. However, longitudinal, qualitative, and behavioral genetic evidence suggests these associations could, in some cases, reflect parents' response to children's genetic risk for obesity, an instance of gene–environment correlation. We tested for gene–environment correlations across multiple domains of food parenting practices and explored the role of parent-reported child appetite in these relationships.

Materials and methods

Data on relevant variables were available for N = 197 parent–child dyads (7.54 ± 2.67 years; 44.4% girls) participating in RESONANCE, an ongoing pediatric cohort study. Children's body mass index (BMI) polygenic risk score (PRS) were derived based on adult GWAS data. Parents reported on their feeding practices (Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire) and their child's eating behavior (Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire). Moderation effects of child eating behaviors on associations between child BMI PRS and parental feeding practices were examined, adjusting for relevant covariates.

Results

Of the 12 parental feeding practices, 2 were associated with child BMI PRS, namely, restriction for weight control (β = 0.182, p = 0.011) and teaching about nutrition (β = −0.217, p = 0.003). Moderation analyses demonstrated that when children had high genetic obesity risk and showed moderate/high (vs. low) food responsiveness, parents were more likely to restrict food intake to control weight.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that parents may adjust their feeding practices in response to a child's genetic propensity toward higher or lower bodyweight, and the adoption of food restriction to control weight may depend on parental perceptions of the child's appetite. Research using prospective data on child weight and appetite and food parenting from infancy is needed to further investigate how gene–environment relationships evolve through development.