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Gu X, Gao P, Shen Y, Lu L. Intact fruit intake is nonlinear inversely associated with visceral adipose tissue area in U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study. Nutr Res 2024; 129:28-37. [PMID: 39181064 DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) plays a crucial role in leading to obesity-related diseases. However, the association between fruit intake (excluding fruit juice) and VAT is not well-known. We aim to further explore this association in a large population. We hypothesized that higher intact fruit intake would be inversely associated with VAT. A total of 9582 adult participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Food Patterns Equivalents Database 2011-2018 were included. Weighted linear regression models were utilized to evaluate the association between intact fruit intake (from two 24-hour dietary recalls) and VAT area (measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). Subgroup analysis was conducted to test the robustness of the results. Restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to find the nonlinear association. The median of intact fruit intake was 0.32 cup-equivalent (eq)/d, and the mean of VAT was 104.87 ± 1.23 cm2. Intact fruit intake (increased by 1 cup-eq/d) demonstrated an inverse association with VAT area across three adjusted models, with β(95% confidence interval) values of -7(-8.49, -5.51), -6(-7.50, -4.51), and -3.02(-4.11, -1.94) in model 1, model 2, and model 3, respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed no interactions were found among age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, and physical activity subgroups. Restricted cubic spline revealed the inverse association was more significant when intact fruit intake was less than 1.7 cups-eq/d. These findings suggest that increasing intact fruit consumption could be an effective public health strategy to mitigate VAT accumulation and associated health risks, advancing our understanding of dietary impacts on adiposity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Gu
- Department of Endocrinology, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Gao
- Department of Endocrinology, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Department of Endocrinology, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Leiqun Lu
- Department of Endocrinology, RuiJin Hospital Lu Wan Branch, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Spiga F, Davies AL, Tomlinson E, Moore TH, Dawson S, Breheny K, Savović J, Gao Y, Phillips SM, Hillier-Brown F, Hodder RK, Wolfenden L, Higgins JP, Summerbell CD. Interventions to prevent obesity in children aged 5 to 11 years old. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024; 5:CD015328. [PMID: 38763517 PMCID: PMC11102828 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015328.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevention of obesity in children is an international public health priority given the prevalence of the condition (and its significant impact on health, development and well-being). Interventions that aim to prevent obesity involve behavioural change strategies that promote healthy eating or 'activity' levels (physical activity, sedentary behaviour and/or sleep) or both, and work by reducing energy intake and/or increasing energy expenditure, respectively. There is uncertainty over which approaches are more effective and numerous new studies have been published over the last five years, since the previous version of this Cochrane review. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of interventions that aim to prevent obesity in children by modifying dietary intake or 'activity' levels, or a combination of both, on changes in BMI, zBMI score and serious adverse events. SEARCH METHODS We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was February 2023. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials in children (mean age 5 years and above but less than 12 years), comparing diet or 'activity' interventions (or both) to prevent obesity with no intervention, usual care, or with another eligible intervention, in any setting. Studies had to measure outcomes at a minimum of 12 weeks post baseline. We excluded interventions designed primarily to improve sporting performance. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard Cochrane methods. Our outcomes were body mass index (BMI), zBMI score and serious adverse events, assessed at short- (12 weeks to < 9 months from baseline), medium- (9 months to < 15 months) and long-term (≥ 15 months) follow-up. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome. MAIN RESULTS This review includes 172 studies (189,707 participants); 149 studies (160,267 participants) were included in meta-analyses. One hundred forty-six studies were based in high-income countries. The main setting for intervention delivery was schools (111 studies), followed by the community (15 studies), the home (eight studies) and a clinical setting (seven studies); one intervention was conducted by telehealth and 31 studies were conducted in more than one setting. Eighty-six interventions were implemented for less than nine months; the shortest was conducted over one visit and the longest over four years. Non-industry funding was declared by 132 studies; 24 studies were funded in part or wholly by industry. Dietary interventions versus control Dietary interventions, compared with control, may have little to no effect on BMI at short-term follow-up (mean difference (MD) 0, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.10 to 0.10; 5 studies, 2107 participants; low-certainty evidence) and at medium-term follow-up (MD -0.01, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.12; 9 studies, 6815 participants; low-certainty evidence) or zBMI at long-term follow-up (MD -0.05, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.01; 7 studies, 5285 participants; low-certainty evidence). Dietary interventions, compared with control, probably have little to no effect on BMI at long-term follow-up (MD -0.17, 95% CI -0.48 to 0.13; 2 studies, 945 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) and zBMI at short- or medium-term follow-up (MD -0.06, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.01; 8 studies, 3695 participants; MD -0.04, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.02; 9 studies, 7048 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Five studies (1913 participants; very low-certainty evidence) reported data on serious adverse events: one reported serious adverse events (e.g. allergy, behavioural problems and abdominal discomfort) that may have occurred as a result of the intervention; four reported no effect. Activity interventions versus control Activity interventions, compared with control, may have little to no effect on BMI and zBMI at short-term or long-term follow-up (BMI short-term: MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.13; 14 studies, 4069 participants; zBMI short-term: MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.02; 6 studies, 3580 participants; low-certainty evidence; BMI long-term: MD -0.07, 95% CI -0.24 to 0.10; 8 studies, 8302 participants; zBMI long-term: MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.04; 6 studies, 6940 participants; low-certainty evidence). Activity interventions likely result in a slight reduction of BMI and zBMI at medium-term follow-up (BMI: MD -0.11, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.05; 16 studies, 21,286 participants; zBMI: MD -0.05, 95% CI -0.09 to -0.02; 13 studies, 20,600 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Eleven studies (21,278 participants; low-certainty evidence) reported data on serious adverse events; one study reported two minor ankle sprains and one study reported the incident rate of adverse events (e.g. musculoskeletal injuries) that may have occurred as a result of the intervention; nine studies reported no effect. Dietary and activity interventions versus control Dietary and activity interventions, compared with control, may result in a slight reduction in BMI and zBMI at short-term follow-up (BMI: MD -0.11, 95% CI -0.21 to -0.01; 27 studies, 16,066 participants; zBMI: MD -0.03, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.00; 26 studies, 12,784 participants; low-certainty evidence) and likely result in a reduction of BMI and zBMI at medium-term follow-up (BMI: MD -0.11, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.00; 21 studies, 17,547 participants; zBMI: MD -0.05, 95% CI -0.07 to -0.02; 24 studies, 20,998 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Dietary and activity interventions compared with control may result in little to no difference in BMI and zBMI at long-term follow-up (BMI: MD 0.03, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.16; 16 studies, 22,098 participants; zBMI: MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.01; 22 studies, 23,594 participants; low-certainty evidence). Nineteen studies (27,882 participants; low-certainty evidence) reported data on serious adverse events: four studies reported occurrence of serious adverse events (e.g. injuries, low levels of extreme dieting behaviour); 15 studies reported no effect. Heterogeneity was apparent in the results for all outcomes at the three follow-up times, which could not be explained by the main setting of the interventions (school, home, school and home, other), country income status (high-income versus non-high-income), participants' socioeconomic status (low versus mixed) and duration of the intervention. Most studies excluded children with a mental or physical disability. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The body of evidence in this review demonstrates that a range of school-based 'activity' interventions, alone or in combination with dietary interventions, may have a modest beneficial effect on obesity in childhood at short- and medium-term, but not at long-term follow-up. Dietary interventions alone may result in little to no difference. Limited evidence of low quality was identified on the effect of dietary and/or activity interventions on severe adverse events and health inequalities; exploratory analyses of these data suggest no meaningful impact. We identified a dearth of evidence for home and community-based settings (e.g. delivered through local youth groups), for children living with disabilities and indicators of health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Spiga
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Annabel L Davies
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Eve Tomlinson
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Theresa Hm Moore
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Sarah Dawson
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Katie Breheny
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jelena Savović
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Sophie M Phillips
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Durham University, Durham, UK
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Child Health and Physical Activity Laboratory, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frances Hillier-Brown
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Human Nutrition Research Centre and Population Health Sciences Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK
| | - Rebecca K Hodder
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
- Population Health Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, Australia
- National Centre of Implementation Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Luke Wolfenden
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Julian Pt Higgins
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Carolyn D Summerbell
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Durham University, Durham, UK
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Barton JM, McMath AL, Montgomery SP, Donovan SM, Fiese BH. Longitudinal changes in home food availability and concurrent associations with food and nutrient intake among children at 24-48 months. Public Health Nutr 2024; 27:e62. [PMID: 38305130 PMCID: PMC10897571 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980024000375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe changes in home food availability during early childhood, including modified, developmentally sensitive obesogenic scores, and to determine whether home food availability is associated with food and nutrient intakes of children concurrently, over time. DESIGN Data were drawn from the STRONG Kids 2 longitudinal, birth cohort to achieve the study objectives. Home food availability was assessed with the Home Food Inventory (HFI) and included fifteen food groups (e.g. fruit and vegetables) and three obesogenic scores (one original and two modified). Food and nutrient intakes were measured using the Block FFQ and included twenty-seven food groups and eighteen nutrients (e.g. vitamins A and C, protein). HFI and FFQ were completed by trained researchers or mothers, respectively, at 24, 36 and 48 months. Repeated-measures ANOVA and Spearman's correlations were used to achieve the study objectives. SETTING Central Illinois, USA. PARTICIPANTS Participants were 468 children at 24, 36 and 48 months of age. RESULTS Availability of less nutritious foods and obesogenic foods and beverages increased as children aged, and availability of both nutritious and less nutritious foods were associated with child food and nutrient intake. The three obesogenic scores demonstrated similar, positive associations with the intake of energy, saturated fat, added sugars and kilocalories from sweets. CONCLUSION These findings offer novel insight into changes in home food availability and associations with food and nutrient intake during early childhood. Additional attention is needed examining antecedents (e.g. built environments, purchasing behaviours) and consequences (e.g. child diet quality and weight) of home food availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Barton
- Family Resiliency Center, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Center for Childhood Obesity Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Arden L McMath
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Stewart P Montgomery
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Sharon M Donovan
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Barbara H Fiese
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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Bradley M, Melchor J, Carr R, Karjoo S. Obesity and malnutrition in children and adults: A clinical review. OBESITY PILLARS (ONLINE) 2023; 8:100087. [PMID: 38125660 PMCID: PMC10728708 DOI: 10.1016/j.obpill.2023.100087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Background In the U.S., children and adults are consuming more low-nutrient foods with added sugar and excess fats as compared to healthy, high-quality calories and micronutrients. This diet is increasing the prevalence of malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies, despite high calorie intake. This is a review of the common micronutrient deficiencies, the risk factors for malnutrition, dietary plans, and the health consequences in children and adults with obesity in the U.S. Methods This clinical review of literature was performed on the MEDLINE (PubMed) search engine. A total of 1391 articles were identified and after review, a total of 130 were found to be most pertinent. Discussion The most common micronutrient deficiencies found in patients with obesity were vitamin A, thiamine (B1), folate (B9), cobalamin (B12), vitamin D, iron, calcium, and magnesium, especially prior and after bariatric surgery. Diets that produced the most weight reduction also further puts these individuals at risk for worsening malnutrition. Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies can worsen health outcomes if not properly managed. Conclusion Adequate screening and awareness of malnutrition can improve the health outcomes in patients with obesity. Physiologic changes in response to increased adiposity and inadequate intake increase this population's risk of adverse health effects. Malnutrition affects the individual and contributes to worse public health outcomes. The recommendations for screening for malnutrition are not exclusive to individuals undergoing bariatric procedures and can improve the health outcomes of any patient with obesity. However, clearly, improved nutritional status can assist with metabolism and prevent adverse nutritional outcomes post-bariatric surgery. Clinicians should advise on proper nutrition and be aware of diets that worsen deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Bradley
- Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32304, USA
| | - Julian Melchor
- Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32304, USA
| | - Rachel Carr
- Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32304, USA
| | - Sara Karjoo
- Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32304, USA
- Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, 601 5th St. S. Suite 605, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA
- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 560 Channelside Drive MDD 54, Tampa, FL, 33602, USA
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Baltaci A, Laska MN, Horning M, Hearst M, Lee J, Fulkerson JA. Parent meal self-efficacy and practices in households with healthy home food environments in the face of economic hardship. Appetite 2023; 190:107029. [PMID: 37683896 PMCID: PMC10543555 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Some families who experience economic hardship demonstrate remarkable strength and resourcefulness to sustain a healthy home food environment. This ability to navigate economic barriers could be associated with parent meal practices that promote children's healthful dietary intake. Therefore, this study aimed to examine 1) whether parent meal self-efficacy and practices were associated with economic assistance status and home fruit and vegetable (FV) availability and 2) how parent meal self-efficacy and practices differed by home FV availability and economic assistance status. Analyses utilized baseline data from 274 parent/child dyads from two childhood obesity prevention trials: HOME Plus (urban) and NU-HOME (rural). Parents in households with high FV availability (regardless of economic assistance) had significantly higher self-efficacy in preparing healthy foods, family dinner routines, frequency of child's plate being half filled with FV, frequency of family dinner and breakfast, and lower frequency of purchasing dinner from fast food restaurants. Economic assistance was not associated with parent meal self-efficacy and practices. Four family groups were created and defined by economic assistance (yes/no) and home FV availability (high/low). About 31% of families that received economic assistance and had high home FV availability were food insecure. Families (n = 39) receiving economic assistance and having high home FV availability had greater frequency of family dinners compared to those in households with economic assistance and low home FV availability (n = 47) (p = 0.001); no other parent meal self-efficacy or practices differed between groups. Our findings suggest some families can maintain healthy home food environments despite economic hardship and frequent family dinners may be an important strength for these families. More research is needed to investigate asset-based models to understand the family strengths that enable them to thrive during difficult times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysegul Baltaci
- School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Melissa N Laska
- School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Melissa Horning
- School of Nursing, 308 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Mary Hearst
- School of Nursing, 308 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Jiwoo Lee
- School of Nursing, 308 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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Kotova MB, Maksimov SA, Drapkina OM. Gender, Age, Family and Territorial Features of Dietary and Physical Activity Patterns in Russian Youths. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095779. [PMID: 35565174 PMCID: PMC9104441 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Identifying dietary and physical activity (PA) patterns in Russian youths and examining their dependence on gender, age, family characteristics and area of residence features. The research involved 783 school students 10-17 years of age and their parents living in the cities of Moscow and Murmansk. Using the principal component analysis, four integral indices were identified that characterized the habits and dietary patterns, PA and lifestyle. Boys, compared with girls, were more likely to consume unhealthy foods but less likely to practice malnutrition. Within the age ranges of 13-15 years old and 16-17 years old, the proportions of school students with a poor sleep pattern and low PA were higher than in children 10-12 years of age. In smoking families, children were less likely to consume healthy foods and more likely to eat unhealthy foods. In Murmansk school students, compared with their Moscow peers, a reduction in both sleep time and PA was observed less often. Our study demonstrated that the most significant factors of a balanced and healthy diet, rational daily routine and lifestyle in school students were their gender and age characteristics, as well as some contextual factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina B. Kotova
- National Medical Research Center for Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 10 Bld. Petroverigskiy Lane, 101990 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.K.); (O.M.D.)
| | - Sergey A. Maksimov
- National Medical Research Center for Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 10 Bld. Petroverigskiy Lane, 101990 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.K.); (O.M.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-985-333-0261
| | - Oksana M. Drapkina
- National Medical Research Center for Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 10 Bld. Petroverigskiy Lane, 101990 Moscow, Russia; (M.B.K.); (O.M.D.)
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Jia SS, Liu Q, Allman-Farinelli M, Partridge SR, Pratten A, Yates L, Stevens M, McGill B. The Use of Portion Control Plates to Promote Healthy Eating and Diet-Related Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14040892. [PMID: 35215542 PMCID: PMC8874720 DOI: 10.3390/nu14040892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of portion control plates in achieving healthy diets is unclear. The aim of this scoping review was to systematically map findings from peer reviewed and grey literature to provide evidence for the use of portion control plates to promote healthy eating and nutrition-related knowledge in children and adults. A secondary aim was to review the design characteristics of portion control plates. The search was conducted in four databases, including Medline, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycInfo, and grey literature sources following the PRISMA scoping review guidelines. A total of 22 articles comprising 23 intervention studies and 8 from grey literature were included. It was found that the various two-dimensional and three-dimensional portion control plates examined were effective tools for better portion size selection in healthy children and adults. Most portion control plates dedicated half the plate to vegetables, a quarter to protein, and a quarter to carbohydrates. The use of portion control plates in nutrition interventions appears to promote weight loss among those with overweight and obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. However, portion control plates were mostly used as part of multicomponent interventions and the effectiveness of the portion control plate as a stand-alone educational resource or portion control tool alone was uncertain. Further interventional research is indicated to investigate portion plates as tools to improve dietary behaviours and food consumption at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Si Jia
- Engagement and Co-Design Research Hub, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-8627-1697
| | - Qingzhou Liu
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
| | - Margaret Allman-Farinelli
- Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
| | - Stephanie R. Partridge
- Engagement and Co-Design Research Hub, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
- Charles Perkins Centre, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
- Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
| | - Amy Pratten
- New South Wales Ministry of Health, Centre for Population Health, St Leonards, Sydney 2065, Australia; (A.P.); (L.Y.); (M.S.)
| | - Lisa Yates
- New South Wales Ministry of Health, Centre for Population Health, St Leonards, Sydney 2065, Australia; (A.P.); (L.Y.); (M.S.)
| | - Matthew Stevens
- New South Wales Ministry of Health, Centre for Population Health, St Leonards, Sydney 2065, Australia; (A.P.); (L.Y.); (M.S.)
| | - Bronwyn McGill
- Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
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Lee J, Friend S, Horning ML, Linde JA, Flattum C, Lindberg R, Fulkerson JA. Are patterns of family evening meal practices associated with child and parent diet quality and weight-related outcomes? Appetite 2022; 171:105937. [PMID: 35045323 PMCID: PMC8892840 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.105937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Family meal practices such as family member presence, fast food consumption and media usage have been associated with health outcomes. However, little is known about combinations of family meal practices and their effects on diet and health. This secondary data analysis aimed to identify patterns of family evening meal practices and examine their associations with family characteristics (e.g., demographics and chaos) and child and parent diet quality and weight-related outcomes. We used baseline data from a community-based randomized controlled trial with 7- to 10-year-old children and their parents in rural Minnesota (n = 114). Parent-reported structural (e.g. media usage) and interpersonal (e.g. mealtime routines) aspects of family evening meal practices were included in latent profile analyses to identify patterns. Diet quality was assessed by child Healthy Eating Index-2015 and parent fruit and vegetable intake. Weight-related outcomes were determined using measured body mass index (z-scores) and percent body fat. A 3-class model was the model of best-fit. The Unplanned Infrequent Family Evening Meals with Mixed Healthfulness class (C1) featured the least frequent family evening meals and the lowest scores for mealtime routines and planning skills. The Family Evening Meals with Fast Food class (C2) characterized having family evening meals four times a week, but fast food was often served. The Planful, Healthful and Frequent Family Evening Meals class (C3) reported the highest meal routine and planning scores as well as frequent family evening meals. Parents in C3 had higher consumption of fruits and vegetables and children in C3 had lower percent body fat, compared to those in other classes. Distinctly different patterns of family evening meal practices suggest a need for considering heterogeneity of family evening meal practices in developing tailored family-meal interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwoo Lee
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Sarah Friend
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Melissa L Horning
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Jennifer A Linde
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
| | - Colleen Flattum
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
| | - Rebecca Lindberg
- Rebecca E. Lindberg, LLC, 4629 Arden Avenue, Edina, MN, 55424, USA.
| | - Jayne A Fulkerson
- School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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PRADO TR, MAZZONETTO AC, BOTELHO AM, FIATES GMR. Home availability of ultraprocessed foods in families who prepare meals at home. REV NUTR 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-9865202235e210249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective This study characterized the degree of processing of the food items available at home and the routine of shopping for food in families with children and/or teenagers and whose meals are usually prepared at home. Methods Mixed methods (interview, questionnaires, and food inventory). Interview’s transcripts were submitted to thematic analysis and the foods identified in the inventory were classified according to the degree of processing and analyzed for their availability and access in the home food environment. Results Results revealed the high availability of ultra-processed foods; that the supermarket was the main source of food acquisition; and that purchasing food is part of an organized routine where time and control of expenses are the most valued aspects. Conclusion Actions which focus on planning and executing the acquisition of unprocessed and minimally processed foods are needed to promote greater availability and increased intake of such foods, so that the composition of homemade meals may be in line with what is recommended by the national dietary guidelines.
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10
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Teixeira B, Afonso C, Rodrigues S, Oliveira A. Healthy and Sustainable Dietary Patterns in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Adv Nutr 2021; 13:1144-1185. [PMID: 34850824 PMCID: PMC9340991 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmab148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The need for adherence to a healthy and sustainable dietary pattern in the pediatric stage is discussed worldwide, being linked to a progressive incidence of noncommunicable diseases in adulthood. The aims of this systematic review were to summarize the healthy and/or sustainable dietary patterns, defined a priori, described in the literature for use during the pediatric stage; to evaluate the adherence to these dietary patterns; and identify the health-related benefits associated with adherence to these patterns. A literature search was carried out on Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science from 2010 up to 2021, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 128 articles were included according to the following criteria: participants 2-17 y old, healthy and/or sustainable dietary patterns defined by an a priori methodology; articles written in English or Portuguese; and published since 2010. Fifty instruments with 14 adaptations that measure adherence to healthy and/or sustainable dietary patterns in children and adolescents were found. The Mediterranean Diet was the most studied dietary pattern. Adherence to healthy and/or sustainable dietary patterns has wide variations worldwide. Most of the instruments described have been little studied at pediatric ages, reducing the ability to extrapolate results. Higher adherence to these dietary patterns was associated with lower body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, and metabolic risk. There is no consensus regarding the association with BMI. No studies have proofs of the sustainability characteristics of these instruments, it being necessary to produce a new sustainable instrument or test the association of the previous ones with, for example, the ecological footprint. Further validations of these instruments in each country and more prospective studies are needed to establish temporal relations with health-related outcomes. This systematic review was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ as CRD42020221788.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cláudia Afonso
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto [Institute of Public Health, University of Porto], Porto, Portugal,Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), [Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR)], Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Rodrigues
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal,EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto [Institute of Public Health, University of Porto], Porto, Portugal,Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), [Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR)], Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia Oliveira
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto [Institute of Public Health, University of Porto], Porto, Portugal,Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), [Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR)], Porto, Portugal,Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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11
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de la Torre-Moral A, Fàbregues S, Bach-Faig A, Fornieles-Deu A, Medina FX, Aguilar-Martínez A, Sánchez-Carracedo D. Family Meals, Conviviality, and the Mediterranean Diet among Families with Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18052499. [PMID: 33802507 PMCID: PMC7967627 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Two aspects that characterize the Mediterranean diet (MD) are "what" and "how" we eat. Conviviality relates to "how" we eat and to the pleasure of sharing meals with significant people. The most studied concept is "family meals", which includes conviviality, which involves "enjoying" family meals. Given the lack of research on convivial family meals in Mediterranean countries, the purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the family meal representations and practices of families with 12- to 16-year-old adolescents to assess whether they responded to a pattern of conviviality, and to examine their association with MD adherence. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted and food frequency and family meal questionnaires were administered. A food pattern analysis was carried out and digital photos of meals were analyzed to examine eating habits and meal composition, respectively. The findings showed that parents believed family meals are a space for socialization and communication. Items relating to the conviviality of family meals identified in the study were meal frequency, meals at the table, lack of digital distractions, pleasant conversations, and time spent on family meals. Attention should be paid to conviviality in Mediterranean families when designing multi-approach strategies to promote healthy eating among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de la Torre-Moral
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Sergi Fàbregues
- Department of Psychology and Education, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Anna Bach-Faig
- FoodLab Research Group (2017SGR 83), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain; (F.X.M.); (A.A.-M.)
- Food and Nutrition Area, Barcelona Official College of Pharmacists, 08009 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Albert Fornieles-Deu
- Eating and Weight-Related Problems Unit, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-D.); (D.S.-C.)
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - F. Xavier Medina
- FoodLab Research Group (2017SGR 83), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain; (F.X.M.); (A.A.-M.)
| | - Alicia Aguilar-Martínez
- FoodLab Research Group (2017SGR 83), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC), 08018 Barcelona, Spain; (F.X.M.); (A.A.-M.)
| | - David Sánchez-Carracedo
- Eating and Weight-Related Problems Unit, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-D.); (D.S.-C.)
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Cross-Sectional Associations Between Mothers and Children's Breakfast Routine-The Feel4Diabetes-Study. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13030720. [PMID: 33668380 PMCID: PMC7996176 DOI: 10.3390/nu13030720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive influences of family members have been associated with a high probability of children’s daily breakfast consumption. Therefore, the aim of this study was to scrutinize the association of breakfast routines between mothers and their children. The baseline data of the Feel4Diabetes-study was obtained in 9760 children (49.05% boys)–mother pairs in six European countries. A parental self-reported questionnaire gauging the frequency of breakfast consumption and of breakfast´ foods and beverages consumption was used. Agreement in routines of mothers and their children’s breakfast consumption was analyzed in sex-specific crosstabs. The relationship of breakfast routine and food groups’ consumption between mothers and their children was assessed with analysis of covariance. The highest proportion of children who always consumed breakfast were those whose mothers always consumed it. Children consuming breakfast regularly had a higher intake of milk or unsweetened dairy products and all kind of cereal products (low fiber and whole-grain) than occasional breakfast consumers (p < 0.05). The strong similarity between mothers and children suggests a transfer of breakfast routine from mothers to their children, as a high proportion of children who usually consume breakfast were from mothers also consuming breakfast. All breakfast foods and beverages consumption frequencies were similar between children and their mothers.
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13
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Spielvogel I, Naderer B, Binder A, Matthes J. The Forbidden Reward. The Emergence of Parent-Child Conflicts About Food Over Time and the Influence of Parents' Communication Strategies and Feeding Practices. Front Public Health 2021; 8:604702. [PMID: 33537278 PMCID: PMC7848163 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.604702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most critical arenas for conflicts between parents and their children relates to food. Although parent-child conflicts about food are a real occurrence, this form of parent-child interaction has been rarely examined. Given the special role of parents in shaping children's diet, we especially focus on the impact of parental measures. This study investigates how parental communication strategies (i.e., active vs. restrictive) and feeding practices (i.e., overt control vs. covert control) affect the emergence of parent-child conflicts about food over time. Based on previous research, we assessed overt control through parents' use of food as a reward and restriction of their children's access to specific food types. We explored the impact of our predictors on both conflicts about unhealthy and healthy food with a two-wave panel study including parents and their children (N = 541; children aged between 5 and 11) in Austria between fall 2018 and spring 2019. Results of two multiple linear regressions indicated that predominantly parents' use of unhealthy food as a reward is connected to both healthy and unhealthy food conflicts. Furthermore, inconsistent parental educational styles increased the respective conflict potential. Active food-related mediation and covert control did not relate to food-related conflicts about unhealthy and healthy food. Parents' increased use of overtly controlling and restrictive feeding practices might not be only counterproductive for children's diet but also for food-related parent-child interactions. Instead, a “health discourse” (i.e., active food-related mediation) might prevent food-related conflicts and foster a healthy growth in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Spielvogel
- Department of Communication, Advertising and Media Effects Research Group (AdME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte Naderer
- Department of Media and Communication, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alice Binder
- Department of Communication, Advertising and Media Effects Research Group (AdME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jörg Matthes
- Department of Communication, Advertising and Media Effects Research Group (AdME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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14
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Patel MD, Donovan SM, Lee SY. Considering Nature and Nurture in the Etiology and Prevention of Picky Eating: A Narrative Review. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12113409. [PMID: 33171966 PMCID: PMC7694604 DOI: 10.3390/nu12113409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Children are often categorized as picky eaters by parents and caregivers for their rejection of foods, such as vegetables, and for exhibiting other difficult mealtime behaviors. However, there are several factors that contribute to these mealtime behaviors, including early feeding practices (i.e., breastfeeding, introduction to solid food), repeated exposure to novel foods, and genetic taste sensitivity to certain compounds. Using the online database of PubMed, a review of the literature on the development of picky eating in children, its outcomes, and intervention strategies was conducted. This review groups the developmental contributors to picky eating into the categories of nature and nurture and explores the interaction between the two. This paper will also summarize the potential outcomes of picky eating and the various strategies that are currently recommended to mitigate picky eating in young children. However, there is a lack of longitudinal work targeting consistent picky eating behaviors that have the potential to impact long-term food preferences and dietary variety. Future intervention strategies should address the factors that influence the development of picky eating on an individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meera D. Patel
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA;
| | - Sharon M. Donovan
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA;
| | - Soo-Yeun Lee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-217-244-9435
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15
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do Amaral e Melo GR, Silva PO, Nakabayashi J, Bandeira MV, Toral N, Monteiro R. Family meal frequency and its association with food consumption and nutritional status in adolescents: A systematic review. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239274. [PMID: 32946506 PMCID: PMC7500660 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review evaluated the association between frequency of family meals (FFM) and nutritional status (NS) and/or food consumption (FC) in adolescents. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017062180) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. No publication date, language, or meal type restrictions were imposed. Only full-text original articles were included; qualitative studies were excluded. Studies were identified by searching 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, BVS Brazil, and Adolec) and gray literature (Google Scholar) and by scanning reference lists of included articles. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cohort and cross-sectional studies. Initial search yielded 2001 results and 47 articles were included. An updated literature search added 3 articles. Of the 50 studies included, 25 studied the association between FFM and NS, 32 investigated the association between FFM and FC, being that seven studies analyzed both outcomes. Thirty-four were cross-sectional studies, 12 were longitudinal studies, and 4 studies analyzed both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Thirty-five studies were rated as having good quality, whereas 19 were of fair quality. Sample size ranged from 140 to 102 072 participants. Most investigations evaluated the frequency of breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner/supper/evening meals over a 1-week period. Seventeen studies identified a positive relationship between high FFM and better NS, and 26 found a positive association between high FFM and better FC. In conclusion, this review showed an association between FFM and healthy dietary patterns, such as increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Further research is needed to understand the association between FFM and NS, since some studies showed a protective role of family meals against obesity in this age group, whereas other studies identified no significant association between these variables.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Priscila Olin Silva
- Department of Nutrition, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Jennifer Nakabayashi
- Department of Nutrition, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | | | - Natacha Toral
- Department of Nutrition, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Renata Monteiro
- Department of Nutrition, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
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Snuggs S, Houston-Price C, Harvey K. Development of a Parental Feeding Goal Measure: The Family Mealtime Goals Questionnaire. Front Psychol 2019; 10:455. [PMID: 30914992 PMCID: PMC6422867 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that parents' feeding practices predict children's eating behaviors. However, there has been little research into parents' mealtime goals-their desired outcomes for family mealtimes. These goals, and potential conflicts between them, may be important both in explaining parents' feeding practices and improving children's eating behaviors, as health behavior change is more likely to be achieved by programmes and interventions that are aligned with an individual's goals. The objectives of this study were to develop a reliable and valid measure that captures parental mealtime goals, and to describe parents' endorsement of these goals. Online questionnaire methods were used to design and test the Family Mealtime Goals Questionnaire with 1,140 parents and carers of at least one child aged from 1 to 16 years. Exploratory qualitative analysis, Principal Components Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and test-retest analysis (using intraclass correlations) were conducted to establish the psychometric properties of the instrument. An 18-item questionnaire was produced with seven dimensions: stress/conflict avoidance, homemade food, shared family food, family involvement in mealtimes, price, occasional treats, and high/low fat regulation. Some differences were found in the goal structure of parents of children of different ages but stress/conflict avoidance was the most strongly endorsed mealtime goal for all age groups. The Family Mealtime Goals Questionnaire provides a useful measure of parents' feeding motivations. It will facilitate large-scale research into the relationships between parents' feeding goals and practices and could inform the design of more effective healthy eating interventions that target specific feeding goals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kate Harvey
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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