Individual differences in child eating self-regulation are associated with excess weight gain and may be explained, in part, by the family feeding environment and a child's general propensity to self-regulate outside of the context of eating (i.e., general self-regulation). Several studies have examined the associations between food parenting behaviors, child eating and general self-regulation, and child weight separately. However, there are a paucity of data on whether and how these factors interact to confer risk for weight gain in early childhood. The current systematic review identified 32 longitudinal studies that examined unidirectional or bidirectional associations among one or more of the following paths: food parenting behaviors and child eating self-regulation (path 1); child eating self-regulation and child weight (path 2); child eating self-regulation and child general self-regulation (path 3); food parenting behaviors and child general self-regulation (path 4); and child general self-regulation and child weight (path 5). Results indicated relationships of food parenting behaviors to child eating self-regulation, child weight to child eating self-regulation, and child general self-regulation to child weight. However, there were scant longitudinal data that examined paths 3 and 4. Further research on the developmental correlates of child eating self-regulation is needed to identify parent and child targets for early childhood obesity prevention.
Keywords: Children; Executive Function; Food Parenting; Obesity; Self-Regulation.
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