Background: The relationship between maternal feeding practices and weight
status of 7-12 year-old obese and nonobese siblings was evaluated in 18 fam
ilies using a discordant sibling design. Method: Mothers completed measures
of concern and perception of children's weight and eating behavior, their
control over child feeding, and maternal eating behavior. Results: Intracla
ss correlations suggested similarity between obese and nonobese siblings in
maternal control over feeding. Mothers perceived differences between their
obese and nonobese children's eating regulation. Mothers' weight status wa
s positively associated with disinhibition of their own eating as well as c
oncern about both their obese and nonobese children's weight and health. Di
scussion: These findings fail to support the hypothesis that maternal contr
ol over child feeding is related to childhood obesity, but highlight the im
pact of maternal weight history and eating habits on her impression of chil
dren's future weight and health independent of the child's weight status. (
C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.