Maternal nicotine dependence is associated with longitudinal increases in child obesogenic eating behaviors

Pediatr Obes. 2019 Nov;14(11):e12541. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12541. Epub 2019 Jun 11.

Abstract

Background: Meta-analysis shows that parental cigarette smoking is associated with child obesity.

Objectives: This study tested for associations between severity of maternal nicotine dependence and longitudinal changes in child eating behavior in archival data analysis.

Methods: Maternal nicotine dependence was assessed with the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence. Child eating behavior was assessed with the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire when children were ages 4, 6, 8, and 10.

Results: Over and above the influence of child age, child biological sex, and family income-to-needs ratio, more severe maternal nicotine dependence was associated with greater increases in child Food Responsiveness (γ = 0.07, SEγ = 0.03, P = .014, 95% CI [0.01, 0.13]) and Emotional Overeating (γ = 0.06, SEγ = 0.03, P = .024, 95% CI [0.01, 0.11]) across 6 years.

Conclusions: Maternal nicotine dependence may be a transdiagnostic risk factor that identifies children at risk for reward-driven, obesogenic eating behavior.

Keywords: Childhood; eating behavior; longitudinal; parental nicotine dependence.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Causality
  • Child
  • Child Behavior / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mothers*
  • Pediatric Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology*