How parent stress and COVID-19 impact on the family are associated with parental pressure to eat during COVID-19.

This study aimed to assess how parent stress and COVID-19 impact on the family are associated with parental pressure to eat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents of healthy preschool-aged children completed measures including pressure to eat (Child Feeding Questionnaire), parent perception of their stress (Perceived Stress Scale), household food insecurity (Hunger Vital Sign) and effects of COVID-19 on families (COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact). Children (N = 228) were racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse (34 % Black, 15 % Hispanic, and 29 % with household income <$20,000).

Differences in maternal and paternal pressure to eat and perception of household responsibilities.

Controlling feeding practices, such as pressure to eat, are associated with a child's disinhibited eating and extremes in bodyweight. We aimed to explore which factors are associated with parent dyads' pressuring feeding practices, including how mothers and fathers perceive the sharing of household tasks such as mealtime and child feeding responsibilities. In this cross-sectional study, parent dyads (mother and father) of healthy preschool-aged children completed an identical questionnaire consisting of measures of picky eating (food fussiness subscale of Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire), parental concern for undereating, and pressure to eat (Child Feeding Questionnaire).

A Pilot Study Examining the Association of Parental Stress and Household Food Insecurity with Dietary Quality in Pre-School-Aged Children.

Adequate dietary quality is necessary for children's appropriate development and may be influenced by family factors. This study with 24 healthy 3-5-year-old children assessed the associations of parental stress and household food insecurity (HFI) with a child's dietary quality. Parents completed three 24 h dietary recalls, and the Healthy Eating Index was calculated to assess dietary quality.

Maternal stress and early childhood BMI among US children from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program.

Background: We aimed to understand the association between maternal stress in the first year of life and childhood body mass index (BMI) from 2 to 4 years of age in a large, prospective United States-based consortium of cohorts.

Methods: We used data from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes program. The main exposure was maternal stress in the first year of life measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).

Examining Full-Time Academic General Pediatric Faculty Compensation by Gender, Race, and Ethnicity: 2020-2021.

Objective: In medicine, women have lower lifetime earnings than men. To our knowledge, an in-depth examination of academic general pediatric faculty compensation by gender, race, and ethnicity has not been conducted. We aimed to 1) explore full-time academic general pediatric faculty salary differences by race and ethnicity; 2) explore these differences among all full-time pediatric faculty.

Examining the effect of parent participation in an adult weight management program on changes in children's weight.

Children of parents participating in weight management programs (WMPs) are more likely to adopt their parents' weight control practices. Little is known about the weight outcomes of children who have a parent participating in a WMP. This study aimed to assess this relationship.

The association of food insecurity with mental health in preschool-aged children and their parents.

Background: Household food insecurity (HFI) is associated with poor general and mental health. Prior studies assessed parent and child mental health separately and did not assess other social risks.

Objective: To assess the relationship between HFI and both parental and child mental health.

Parental concerns about picky eating and undereating, feeding practices, and child's weight.

Objective: Parents' concerns about their child's feeding may lead parents to pressure their child to eat, which may lead to a greater risk for obesity. We aimed to assess if parental concerns for picky eating and undereating are associated with pressure to eat and increased child BMI z-score (BMIz).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 328 parents of healthy preschoolers assessing parent concerns about picky eating (Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire) and child undereating ("Are you concerned …doesn't eat enough?"), parent pressure to eat (Child Feeding Questionnaire), and covariates.

Association of Food Insecurity with Mental Health Outcomes in Parents and Children.

Background: Food insecurity affects 13.7 million US households and is linked to poor mental health. Families shield children from food insecurity by sacrificing their nutritional needs, suggesting parents and children experience food insecurity differentially.

Prevalence of High Weight Status in Children Under 2 Years in NHANES and Statewide Electronic Health Records Data in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Objectives: We evaluated the prevalence of high weight status in children ages 0 to 24 months (m) using data from electronic health records (EHR) and NHANES. We also examined relationships between weight status during infancy and obesity at 24 months of age.

Methods: EHR data from 4 institutions in North and South Carolina included patients born January 1, 2013-October 10, 2017 (N = 147,290).

Growth of Pediatric Refugees after Resettlement to the Southeastern United States.

Objective: To compare weight status and body mass index z-scores (BMIz) of refugee children upon arrival to the Southeastern US and after resettlement with age- and sex-matched controls of nonrefugee children.

Methods: We identified refugee children resettled between July 2014 and June 2018 to Forsyth County, NC. Refugees were assigned age- and sex-matched controls (3 controls:1 refugee) who received care at the same health care site, were Medicaid insured, and had height and weight recorded at time of their matched refugee's resettlement plus at least 2 additional visits.

Trends in food insecurity rates at an academic primary care clinic: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Healthcare organizations are increasingly screening and addressing food insecurity (FI); yet, limited data exists from clinic-based settings on how FI rates change over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate household FI trends over a two-year period at a clinic that implemented a FI screening and referral program.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted for all visits at one academic primary care clinic for all children aged 0-18 years whose parents/guardians had been screened for FI at least once between February 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019 (Year 1) and screened at least once between March 1, 2019 to February 28, 2020 (Year 2).

Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Primary Care Visits at Four Academic Institutions in the Carolinas.

We aimed to determine how COVID-19 affected the number and type of pediatric primary care visits in April 2020, compared to April 2019, and which characteristics were associated with obtaining care in 2020. We performed a retrospective chart review of patients receiving care in April 2019 and April 2020 from four large, academic institutions across two states. The subjects were included if they were aged 0-18 years and were seen in a pediatric clinic in April 2019 or April 2020.

Association of household food insecurity and childhood weight status in a low-income population.

One in seven US households with children are food insecure. The health effects of household food insecurity (HFI) are well documented, but its association with childhood weight status remains unclear. We aimed to assess this association and to describe correlates of HFI in children.

Assessing Parents' Communication of Weight and Weight Management from Clinic to Home.

Family-oriented therapies are the gold standard of childhood obesity treatment, yet little is known about if or how information gathered by one parent from a health care provider is translated to the home. We assessed how families of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity communicate weight-related information received from their provider to family members not present at the visit. Parents and children (9-18 years old,  = 112) completed the McMaster's Family Assessment Device Communication Subscale (FADc) and investigator-derived questions describing weight-related communication practices with family members.

Food insecurity is associated with increased weight loss attempts in children and adolescents.

Household food insecurity (HFI) has been associated with adverse childhood outcomes and shares many common risk factors with obesity. Half of adolescents with overweight or obesity are actively attempting to lose weight. We aim to evaluate whether HFI is associated with weight loss attempts and unhealthy weight loss control practices in children.

Identifying geographic differences in children's sugar-sweetened beverage and 100% fruit juice intake using health system data.

Background: Identifying areas with higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake could help tailor policy and public health efforts intended to reduce sugary beverage consumption.

Objective: Demonstrate the feasibility of using health system data to examine the geographic distribution of sugar-sweetened beverage intake and evaluate neighbourhood characteristics associated with intake.

Methods: We extracted electronic health record data from a sugar-sweetened beverage and 100% fruit juice screener used for children ages 1 to 17 years in eight pediatric practices in North Carolina (March 2017-2018) and dichotomized intake to high (≥3 sugar-sweetened beverages/day) vs not.

Family Meal Practices and Weight Talk Between Adult Weight Management and Weight Loss Surgery Patients and Their Children.

Objective: To identify predictors associated with specific family meal practices and weight talk among patients participating in weight management programs (WMPs) and weight loss surgery (WLS) and their children.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Two US weight management centers.

Predictors of Engagement in a Pediatric Weight Management Clinic after Referral.

Little is known about factors that affect a family's ability to engage in pediatric weight management clinics (PWMCs). We aimed at comparing child and family characteristics of patients referred to a PWMC by participants' attendance at orientation, attendance at intake, or completing the program. We performed a retrospective study of patients ages 2-18 years referred to a PWMC between 2014 and 2017.