Acculturation of Mexican-American mothers influences child feeding strategies

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of materna l acculturation level on child feeding strategies and anthropometry in pres choolers from low-income Mexican-Ainerican families. Design/Subjects Data are from a cross-sectional survey of 238 low-income Me xican-American families with preschool children living in California during 1998. Interviewers collected data from the mothers on child-feeding practi ces and weighed and measured the children in their homes. Statistical Analyses Spearman's correlation coefficients, analysis of varia nce, and chi (2) were used to examine the relationship pf maternal accultur ation level with feeding strategies and anthropometric measurements. Results Compared with more acculturated mothers, less acculturated mothers tend to offer alternative foods More often when their children refuse to ea t. More acculturated women are less likely to view bribes, threats, and pun ishments as effective strategies and are more likely to give vitamins than less acculturated mothers. Maternal accumulation is not associated with dif ferences in weight-for-height z-scores, height-for-age, or body mass index of the children. Triceps skinfold thickness are larger in children of more acculturated mothers than in children of less acculturated women. Applications/Conclusions Dietitians should consider differences in child fe eding practices due to acculturation among Mexican-Americans. Successful st rategies to encourage consumption of nutritious traditional foods and to tr ansition from child-led snacking to more structured meals should be part of nutrition education programs.