The present study
40 examined maternal characteristics associated with a more obesogenic home environment in
41 1113 families with preschool children. Primary caregivers (99% mothers) from the Gemini children were 4 years
43 old. Maternal demographics and BMI were assessed in the Gemini baseline questionnaire
44 when the children were on average 8 months old. Maternal eating style was assessed when
45 the children were on average 2 years old, using the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire
46 (DEBQ). Responses to the HEI were standardized and summed to create a composite score
47 of the obesogenic quality of the home; this was categorized into tertiles. Multivariate
48 ordinal logistic regression showed that mothers who were younger (adjusted OR; 95%
49 CI=0.96; 0.94–0.98), less educated (1.97; 1.40–2.77), and had lower incomes (1.89; 1.43–
50 2.49) at baseline were more likely to live in an obesogenic home environment at 4 years, as
51 were mothers who scored higher on the DEBQ External Eating scale (1.40; 1.16–1.70) at 2
52 years, and had a higher baseline BMI (1.05; 1.02–1.08). Using a novel, composite measure
53 of the home environment, this study finds that families who are more socio-economically
54 deprived, and where the mothers are themselves heavier and have a more food responsive
55 eating style, tend to provide a home environment with the hallmarks of a higher risk of weight gain.