The role of parental depression during early childhood obesity treatment : Secondary findings from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract: Background: Parental depression is an emerging factor associated with the development and treatment of childhood obesity. Aim: To examine the role of parental depression on child weight status, parental feeding practices, and child eating behaviours in early childhood obesity treatment. Methods: 128 children with obesity aged 4-6 years (54% girls) with their parents (53% mothers) were included in the study. Families were randomized to parent-only program or to standard treatment. Children's heights and weights were measured at baseline and after 12 months. Parents self-reported their level of depression using the Beck’s Depression Inventory II questionnaire, their feeding practices on the Child Feeding Questionnaire and their children's eating behaviors on the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire The data were analyzed using independent and dependent paired sample t-tests as well as linear regression analyses. Results: After treatment, the level of depression decreased in mothers but not fathers. No associations were found between parental depression level and child weight status, and between level of parental depression and parental feeding practices at baseline. However, associations were found between food responsiveness (β= 0.03; p=0.01; 95% CI [0.01, 0.05]), emotional overeating (β=0.02; p=0.02; 95% CI [0.004, 0.04]), desire to drink (β=0.02; p=0.03; 95% CI [0.002, 0.04]) and parental depression at baseline (adjusted for background variables). Conclusions: Parents who reported higher levels of depression were found to be more likely to perceive their child as being more responsive to food, more emotional overeater, and/or consuming beverages more frequently. Further research on parental depression and child’s eating behavior is needed for better management of childhood obesity.