Dietary Pattern Trajectories in Early Childhood and Their Associations with Patterns of Maternal Feeding Practices in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Cohort

Maternal feeding practices play a major role in children’s dietary intakes. However, there is limited data on the associations between trajectories of dietary patterns (DPs) and patterns of maternal feeding practices during early childhood. Using data from a multi-ethnic Asian cohort study, namely the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO), dietary intakes were measured using Food Frequency Questionnaires in children at 18 months, 5 and 7 years of age. Maternal feeding practices were assessed using validated questionnaires at 15 months, 3 and 5 years of age. Principal component analysis was used to derive 2 major DPs at all time-points as well as patterns of maternal feeding practices. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify trajectory groups for the derived DPs. Multivariable logistic regression examined associations between patterns of maternal feeding practices and DP trajectory groups. Two DPs, namely the ‘healthy’ and ‘less healthy’ were consistently derived at 18 months, 5 and 7 years of age. From each DP, 2 stable DP trajectory groups were further identified between 18 months and 7 years of age. For the ‘healthy’ DP trajectory, majority of the children (Group 1) formed a consistent average adherence trajectory group (91.8