(P18-021-23) Feeding Styles, Food Insecurity and Sociodemographic Factors of Children Under 2 Years of Age in Querétaro, México

Objectives: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationship between Feeding Styles (FS), food insecurity and sociodemographic variables.

Methods: A total of 104 mothers of children under 2 years of age from Querétaro, Mexico, were asked to answer three questionnaires: the Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), the Infant Feeding Styles Questionnaire (IFSQ), and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Feeding styles were classified as (1) Laissez-faire: the mother does not limit the quantity or quality of her child's diet and shows little interaction during feeding; (2) Pressure: the mother insists on increasing the intake and uses the food to calm the child; (3) Restrictive: the mother limits the child to healthy foods and limits the amount of food eaten; (4) Receptive: the mother is attentive to hunger and satiety signals, and monitors the quantity and quality of her child's diet and (5) Indulgent: the mother perceives her child's eating cues but does not set limits on the quantity or quality of the food consumed by him/her.

Results: Most of the women reported having completed an undergraduate/graduate degree and approximately 50% were married. Almost 70% of the mothers reported that they were breastfeeding at the time of the survey. The predominant FS in this population were restrictive (25%), responsive (23.1%), and laissez-faire (22.1%). Marital status, socioeconomic level, having a paid job and having another economic contributor at home were not associated with FS. Mothers of boys used more laissez-faire (p=0.001) and indulgent (p=0.038) FS than mothers of girls. Also, mothers who did not breastfed used laissez-faire (p=0.011) and indulgent (p=0.010) FS more than breastfeeding mothers. Mothers from households with moderate and severe food insecurity had higher scores in the pressure/control FS than those who were food secure (p=0.004).

Conclusions: Feeding boys, not breast-feeding and food insecurity were related to FS that involve control, pressure and did not limit food intake. This could increase the risk of overweight and obesity in the future.

Funding Sources: Partially financed by a scholarship from the National Council of Science and Technology CONACYT