Preschool children's eating behaviors and caregivers' feeding practices in relation to children's weight in China: a network analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study aimed to characterize the interactions between preschool children's eating behaviors and their caregivers' feeding practices, and to compare these patterns across underweight, normal weight, and overweight/obesity groups using a network model.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional survey (January-July 2021) included 3-6-year-old preschool children and their primary caregivers from seven cities in Shaanxi Province, China. Children's eating behaviors and caregivers' feeding practices were measured using the Chinese Preschoolers' Eating Behavior Scale and the Chinese Preschoolers' Caregivers' Feeding Behavior Scale. Network centrality indices identified core and bridge behaviors, with stability assessed via case-dropping bootstrapping.

Results

The

SUBMITTER: Zhang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12667339 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature