Rural and Urban North Carolina Parents' Child Feeding Behaviors

This study examined parental feeding behaviors of 60 parents that influence child eating behaviors in rural and urban households. Self-reported and actual weight levels of children were collected from rural and urban parents (e.g., normal, overweight, obese). Parents also were surveyed using a modified version of the Child Feeding Questionnaire. Parents were asked to provide weekly consumption records of certain meal and food types in the home and information about their efforts to influence children's eating behaviors. Although actual child weight status did not differ between rural and urban parents, rural parents were more likely to report healthier child weight levels. Compared to urban parents, rural parents reported that they provided more home-cooked meals; that their children ate more fruits, vegetables, and meats/fish/poultry; and that they generally used more restriction and pressure to regulate children's feeding behaviors.