Enhancing food habits via sensitivity in rural low-SES mothers of children aged 1–3 living in Colombia: a randomized controlled trial using video-feedback intervention

In a randomized controlled trial with 25 Colombian rural low-SES mothers and their children (aged 1–3 years), the effectiveness of the Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) in enhancing maternal sensitivity and food habits was tested pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up. The study further verified whether maternal sensitivity represented a mechanism of change for food habits. Mixed models indicated that the VIPP-SD did promote higher maternal sensitivity and better food habits. Moreover, increased maternal sensitivity following the VIPP-SD predicted improved maternal food habits, both post-intervention and at the follow-up. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at preventing early inadequate parental food habits in low-SES communities should promote sensitive parenting during daily mother–child interactions, in addition to offering nutritional advice.