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Cross-Sectional Associations Between Mothers and Children's Breakfast Routine-The Feel4Diabetes-Study.
Giménez-Legarre, N, Santaliestra-Pasías, AM, Cardon, G, Imre, R, Iotova, V, Kivelä, J, Liatis, S, Makrilakis, K, Mavrogianni, C, Milenkovic, T, et al
Nutrients. 2021;(3)
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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Advertising Placement in Digital Game Design Influences Children's Choices of Advertised Snacks: A Randomized Trial.
Smith, R, Kelly, B, Yeatman, H, Moore, C, Baur, L, King, L, Boyland, E, Chapman, K, Hughes, C, Bauman, A
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020;(3):404-413
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children are inhabitants of a media-rich environment rife in extensive, sophisticated, and persistent techniques that are used to market unhealthy food. Exposure is known to influence children's attitudes, choices, and consumption, yet further research is required to explore the influence of contemporary techniques within online games. OBJECTIVE To explore the influence of modern advertising on children's attitudes, choices, and consumption, techniques (ie, banner advertising, advergame, and rewarded video advertising) were used to promote an unfamiliar confectionery brand within an online game. DESIGN A between-subjects randomized experimental study. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING Children (aged 7 to 12 years [n=156]) were recruited in New South Wales, Australia, between September and November 2017. INTERVENTION Children were required to play a 4-minute online game, complete some questionnaires, and choose one snack to consume afterward. Children were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: a control group with no advertising, and three experimental conditions that promoted an unfamiliar confectionery brand via a banner advertisement, advergame, or rewarded video advertisement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Questionnaires included the assessment of attitudes to the test brand before and after the game, enjoyment of the game, and children's awareness of advertising. Food choice was recorded and food consumption was measured by weighing the snack in grams, which was translated into kilocalories. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED Statistical tests included analyses of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, and χ2 test. RESULTS Attitudes toward the perception of fun (P=0.06) and taste (P=0.21) of the test brand were not influenced by condition. Children who were exposed to the rewarded video advertising chose the test brand significantly more than children in the other three conditions (P<0.002). Condition did not influence overall energy intake measured in grams (P=0.78) or kilocalories (P=0.46). CONCLUSIONS Children's choice of the test brand was significantly influenced by the rewarded video advertising condition (compared with control, banner advertising, and advergame conditions). This technique is prevalent across online and application games that children play yet the effects of using rewarded video advertising to promote food brands have not been explored from a public health perspective. This study contributes to the understanding of modern strategies used to market unhealthy foods to children.
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Portion size selection in children: Effect of sensory imagery for snacks varying in energy density.
Lange, C, Schwartz, C, Hachefa, C, Cornil, Y, Nicklaus, S, Chandon, P
Appetite. 2020;:104656
Abstract
Food sensory imagery - creating a vivid mental image of the sensory experience of eating - can lead to the selection of smaller portions because it serves as a reminder that eating enjoyment does not necessarily increase with portion size. The evidence is mostly limited to adults and to energy-dense foods for which it is particularly difficult to predict the satiating effects of consumption quantity. The objective was to study how food sensory imagery influences portion size selection of foods varying in energy density (brownie and applesauce) by 7- to 11-year-old children. During after-school time, 171 children were randomized into two conditions. Children in the food sensory imagery condition were asked to imagine the taste, smell, and texture of eating palatable foods, i.e., chocolate cereal, chocolate waffle, and chocolate candies. Children in the control condition performed a similar sensory imagery task for non-food-related activities. Children were then asked to choose between the recommended serving size, a 50% larger portion, and a 125% larger portion of either brownie or applesauce. One week later, they were placed in the same condition for the other food. Compared to the control condition, food sensory imagery led children to choose 7.1% less brownie but had no effect on applesauce portion selection. Exploratory findings showed that the food sensory imagery intervention was especially effective at reducing brownie portion size selection among children who were moderately hungry, who usually eat fast, and whose parents pressure them to eat. In conclusion, food sensory imagery may be a useful intervention to nudge children towards healthier portion size choices because it reduces the selected portion size of an energy-dense snack without reducing the selected portion size of a healthier snack.
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Influence of fathers on the feeding practices and behaviors of children: A systematic review.
Litchford, A, Savoie Roskos, MR, Wengreen, H
Appetite. 2020;:104558
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This systematic review will identify and summarize current research concerning the influence of fathers on the feeding behaviors of their children. Outcomes specific to child health, development of eating habits, relationships between paternal weight and child weight, and paternal dietary habits and child dietary habits were specifically targeted. METHODS A systematic review was conducted based on protocols outlined by PRISMA. A database search produced 851 relevant articles to be screened based on pre-determined inclusion criteria. Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria for full review including two papers based on a single randomized control trial, 3 longitudinal studies, and 18 cross-sectional studies. RESULTS The most consistent findings across studies include the following. Father's BMI was positively correlated with child's BMI, father's dietary intake was predictive of child's dietary intake, food availability in the home influenced child intake, father's food parenting style predicted their children's eating behaviors and congruent parenting by mothers and fathers produced the best child food choices. CONCLUSIONS A growing body of research indicates that fathers play a key role in influencing child eating behaviors. Further research, including randomized control trials, will help strengthen current conclusions and better inform education and interventions designed for fathers.
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Pairing Feeding Content With a Nutrition Education Curriculum: A Comparison of Online and In-Class Delivery.
Hughes, SO, Power, TG, Baker, SS, Barale, KV, Lanigan, JD, Parker, L, Silva Garcia, K, Aragon, MC, Johnston, CA, Micheli, N
Journal of nutrition education and behavior. 2020;(3):314-325
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop a childhood obesity prevention program, Food, Feeding and Your Family (FFYF), which encourages eating self-regulation in young children. This article describes the research methods for FFYF. Activities that will be used to guide the development of the program are illustrated in a logic model. DESIGN A randomized control trial will be conducted with participant groups randomized into 1 of 3 conditions: (1) in-class delivery of feeding content and nutrition education, (2) online delivery of feeding content and in-class delivery of nutrition education, and (3) nutrition education only. Assessments will be collected at baseline, program completion, and 6 and 12 months after completion of the program. SETTING Study will be conducted through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in Colorado and Washington State. PARTICIPANTS Parents with 2- to 8-year-old children will be recruited from affiliated community agencies, 540 participants across both states. INTERVENTIONS FFYF derives content from an empirically validated parental feeding program, Strategies for Effective Eating Development, and will be administered with Eating Smart • Being Active, an evidence-based, nutrition education curriculum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Parents will report on feeding practices, child eating behaviors, feeding styles, and acculturation. ANALYSIS Because of the nested nature of the data, multilevel analyses will be used: time points, within parents, and within groups.
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A review of the influence of fathers on children's eating behaviours and dietary intake.
Rahill, S, Kennedy, A, Kearney, J
Appetite. 2020;:104540
Abstract
The role of fathers in child rearing has changed in recent years due to an increase in maternal employment. Despite this, the majority of research has focused on maternal influences and behaviours in relation to child feeding. Therefore, the aims of the narrative review were: 1) to examine the role and responsibility of fathers in child feeding and the factors associated with paternal responsibility in child feeding; 2) to establish how paternal modelling, paternal diets, and paternal feeding practices relate to children's eating behaviours and dietary intake; and 3) to explore the role of maternal perceptions on paternal feeding roles, as well as how maternal and paternal behaviours relate to children's dietary intake. Firstly, given the limited research, no conclusions can be drawn in relation to the factors associated with fathers' roles. An association with child's gender and age as potential drivers of paternal mealtime behaviours was observed, however more longitudinal research is necessary. In addition, research suggests that the majority of fathers have some responsibility in feeding their child, however, mothers are the primary caregiver and somewhat dictate the level of responsibilities fathers have. Interactions during mealtimes between fathers and their child can both positively and negatively influence children's long-term eating behaviours. Inconsistencies in the literature still prevail in terms of whether the child's diet resembles his fathers or mothers more, however, overall family resemblance is evident. Differences exist between maternal & paternal feeding practices with more coercive feeding practices reported by fathers, suggesting they are a more authoritarian figure during mealtimes than mothers. Overall, it is clear that interventions need to adopt a whole-family approach when tackling children's lifestyle behaviours in order to address the differential influence of both parents.
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Psychological Correlates of Sedentary Screen Time Behaviour Among Children and Adolescents: a Narrative Review.
Mougharbel, F, Goldfield, GS
Current obesity reports. 2020;(4):493-511
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aims of this narrative review were to (1) synthesise the literature on the relationship between screen time and important mental health outcomes and (2) examine the underpinning factors that can influence this association. RECENT FINDINGS Paralleling the rise of mental health issues in children and adolescents is the ubiquitous overuse of screens, but it is unclear how screen time is related to important mental health outcomes and whether this association differs by gender, age and screen type. METHODS Medline/PubMed, PsychINFO and Google Scholar databases were searched on December 2019 for articles published mainly in the last 5 years. The search focused on two main concepts: (i) screen time and (ii) mental health outcomes including anxiety, depression, psychological and psychosocial well-being and body image concerns. RESULTS Sixty studies were included in the review. Higher levels of screen time were associated with more severe depressive symptoms. We found moderate evidence for an association between screen time and poor psychological well-being and body dissatisfaction especially among females. Relationships between screen time and anxiety were inconsistent and somewhat gender specific. Social media use was consistently associated with poorer mental health. Higher levels of screen time are generally associated with poorer mental health outcomes, but associations are influenced by screen type, gender and age. Practitioners, parents, policy makers and researchers should collectively identify and evaluate strategies to reduce screen time, or to use screens more adaptively, as a means of promoting better mental health among children and adolescents.
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Effect of Family-Based REDUCE Intervention Program on Children Eating Behavior and Dietary Intake: Randomized Controlled Field Trial.
Ahmad, N, Shariff, ZM, Mukhtar, F, Lye, MS
Nutrients. 2020;(10)
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a family-based intervention program (REDUCE) on children's eating behaviors and dietary intake. A two-arm randomized controlled field trial was conducted among parents and children of 7 to 10 years old who were either overweight or obese. The intervention was conducted via face-to-face sessions and social media. The child eating behaviors were assessed using the child eating behaviors questionnaire (CEBQ), while their dietary consumption of vegetables and unhealthy snacks was assessed using a parental report of three days unweighted food. The generalized linear mixed modelling adjusted for covariates was used to estimate the intervention effects with alpha of 0.05. A total of 122 parents (91% response rate) completed this study. At the six-month post-training, there were statistically significant mean differences in the enjoyment of food (F(6481) = 4.653, p < 0.001), fruit and vegetable intake (F(6480) = 4.165, p < 0.001) and unhealthy snack intake (F(6480) = 5.062, p < 0.001) between the intervention and wait-list groups; however, it was not clinically meaningful. This study added to the body of knowledge of family-based intervention that utilized social media and assessed the effect in children's eating behavior using the CEBQ and children's dietary intake.
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Parents' perceptions of parent-child interactions related to eating and body image: an experimental vignette study.
Lydecker, JA, Cunningham, PM, O'Brien, E, Grilo, CM
Eating disorders. 2020;(3):272-288
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Abstract
Parents are key to children's health because they can influence children's eating behavior and body image and can make health-related decisions for children. Despite their influence, research on parents' opinions about parenting practices related to weight and eating is limited. Experimental vignettes examined parents' perceptions of parent-child interactions around body image, eating, and weight loss. We manipulated vignette-child weight (healthy-weight, overweight) and communication tone (positive, negative, neutral) to assess their influence on parents' perceptions. Parents (N = 233, 27.5% fathers, 72.5% mothers) were randomly assigned to read one of six vignettes. When the vignette-child had overweight, parents were more likely to recommend seeking help for body image and that the vignette-parent should choose the restaurant food order. Parents were less opposed to commenting on the vignette-child's weight when tone was positive. Parents were more likely to recommend weight-loss efforts that could be implemented by the family rather than those requiring professional assistance. This study is among the first to examine parents' opinions about parenting practices related to weight and eating using an experimental design. Findings might inform future research and continued work on prevention and treatment applications to help align parents' existing opinions about weight and eating with evidence-based health-promoting strategies.
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Development of the DAGIS intervention study: a preschool-based family-involving study promoting preschoolers' energy balance-related behaviours and self-regulation skills.
Ray, C, Kaukonen, R, Lehto, E, Vepsäläinen, H, Sajaniemi, N, Erkkola, M, Roos, E
BMC public health. 2019;(1):1670
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preschoolers' energy balance-related behaviours (EBRBs) and self-regulation skills are important for their later health. Few preschool-based interventions aiming to promote preschoolers' EBRBs and self-regulation skills, simultaneously reducing differences in EBRBs, due to children's socio-economic status (SES) background, have been conducted. This study will present the Increased Health and Wellbeing in Preschools (DAGIS) intervention development process applying the Intervention Mapping (IM) framework. METHODS The development of the DAGIS intervention study, a preschool level clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT), was based on the IM framework. The protocol in IM guides the development process of an intervention through six steps: needs assessment and logic model of the problem, programme outcomes and objectives, design of the programme, production, implementation plan, and evaluation plan. RESULTS The needs assessment, part of the step 1 in IM, yielded the base for the DAGIS logic model of change. The model includes objectives related to changes in children's EBRBs, self-regulation skills, and in psychosocial and physical environment that is determined by parents and early educators. A 22-week programme was developed, and materials for preschools and families were produced. A feasibility study of the recruitment processes, acceptability of the materials and methods, and implementation was conducted. The DAGIS intervention study was conducted September 2017-May 2018 as a clustered RCT including a comprehensive effectiveness and process evaluation. The process evaluation was run throughout the intervention targeting preschools and families. CONCLUSION A preschool-based family-involving programme was developed in the DAGIS intervention study by applying the IM protocol. It was a time- and resource-consuming process. However, the systematic planning, development, and running of the programme have reinforced a comprehensive evaluation, which is a strength in the intervention. The results from the evaluation will enhance the knowledge of how to promote EBRBs and self-regulation skills among preschoolers, and diminish SES differences in them. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN57165350 (Prospectively registered January the 8th, 2015).