Abstract

The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between child nutritional status, feeding practices of the primary caregiver and the child eating behavior of preschoolers in a community in south-central Chile. The sample comprised 249 preschool children from three public and semi-public schools and their primary caregivers. A positive relationship was found between body mass index (BMI) and weight concern (r = .51, p < .01) and restrictive feeding practice (r = .20, p < .01). Significant but weak relationship existed between BMI, body fat percentage and child eating behavior. Canonical correlation analysis indicated that child feeding practices as a group were related to nutritional status of children. Additionally, weight concerns partially mediate the relationship between restrictive feeding and BMI (CI 95% indirect effect "ab" [.02; .13]) and body fat percentage (IC 95% efecto indirecto "ab" [.06; .50]). Child feeding practices of the primary caregivers, particularly weight concern and restrictive feeding play an important role in the management of the preschool children obesity.