Problem eating behaviors related to social factors and body weight in preschool children: A longitudinal study

Background  

Despite the increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity and its association to eating patterns in adolescents and adults, little is known about the relationship between problematic eating behaviours and body weight in the preschool years within the context of various social factors. This research aims to analyze the relationship between social factors, mothers' perceptions of their child's eating behaviour (picky eating and overeating), and body weight in preschool years, in a population-based cohort of preschoolers from Québec (Canada).     

Is healthy behavior contagious: associations of social norms with physical activity and healthy eating

Background  

Social norms are theoretically hypothesized to influence health-related behaviors such as physical activity and eating behaviors. However, empirical evidence relating social norms to these behaviors, independently of other more commonly-investigated social constructs such as social support, is scarce and findings equivocal, perhaps due to limitations in the ways in which social norms have been conceptualized and assessed. This study investigated associations between clearly-defined social norms and a range of physical activity and eating behaviors amongst women, adjusting for the effects of social support.     

Identification of contrastive and comparable school neighborhoods for childhood obesity and physical activity research

   

The neighborhood social and physical environments are considered significant factors contributing to children's inactive lifestyles, poor eating habits, and high levels of childhood obesity. Understanding of neighborhood environmental profiles is needed to facilitate community-based research and the development and implementation of community prevention and intervention programs. We sought to identify contrastive and comparable districts for childhood obesity and physical activity research studies.     

Predictive effects of mother and peer influences on increases in adolescent eating disorder risk factors and symptoms: a 3-year longitudinal study

Objective:

To investigate the relation of maternal and peer attitudes and behaviors to changes in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms in adolescent females.

Method:

We tested whether maternal and peer eating attitudes, behaviors, and deficits in social support at baseline predicted subsequent increases in eating disorder risk factors and symptoms among 483 late adolescent females followed over 3 years.

Results:

Data provide partial support for hypotheses, as eating disorder risk factors and symptoms increased over time and maternal thin ideal internalization significantly predicted a future increases in adolescent bulimic symptoms. There were no significant predictors of adolescent thin ideal internalization or body dissatisfaction.

Discussion:

Findings only partially support the hypothesis that unhealthy attitudes and behaviors of mothers increase risk for eating disorder symptoms in their late adolescent daughters. These results underscore why eating disorder prevention programs should be based on risk factor research that has used prospective and rigorous designs. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Quality of life among caregivers of patients with eating disorders

Purpose  

To analyse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its associated social and clinical variables among a sample of caregivers of patients with eating disorders (ED).     

Perceptions on the use of pricing strategies to stimulate healthy eating among residents of deprived neighbourhoods: a focus group study

Background  

Pricing strategies are mentioned frequently as a potentially effective tool to stimulate healthy eating, mainly for consumers with a low socio-economic status. Still, it is not known how these consumers perceive pricing strategies, which pricing strategies are favoured and what contextual factors are important in achieving the anticipated effects.     

Life dissatisfaction and eating behaviors among older African Americans: The protective role of social support

Objectives

To examine (a) the influences of life dissatisfaction and dietary social support on eating behaviors (a high-fat diet and fruit/vegetable consumption) of older African Americans and (b) the moderating role of perceived dietary social support on the association between their life dissatisfaction and unhealthy eating behaviors.

Design

Baseline data from a larger intervention study of mid-life and older African Americans. The study incorporated a quasi-experimental design with random selection of participants, stratifying for age and gender.

Setting

Six churches in North Florida.

Participants

One hundred and seventy-eight (132 females and 46 males with a median age of 60) older African Americans.

Measurements

A structured questionnaire elicited personal data as well as information on eating behaviors, life dissatisfaction, and perceived dietary social support.

Results

Older African Americans with more cumulative life adversity, as reflected by high life dissatisfaction, had significantly poorer eating behaviors including the consumption of a high-fat diet and low intake of fruits and vegetables. Older African Americans?? dietary choices were also associated with their perceived social support. More importantly, perceived social support acted as a buffer to mitigate the influence of life dissatisfaction on older African Americans?? eating behaviors.

Conclusion

Life dissatisfaction places older African Americans at risk for unhealthy eating behaviors. However, high levels of dietary social support can protect older African Americans from the influence of life dissatisfaction on unhealthy eating behaviors. There are practical implications of this research for health interventions and programming.     

Perceived personal,social and environmental barriers to weight maintenance among young women: A community survey

Background  

Young women are a group at high risk of weight gain. This study examined a range of perceived personal, social and environmental barriers to physical activity and healthy eating for weight maintenance among young women, and how these varied by socioeconomic status (SES), overweight status and domestic situation.     

Mediators of longitudinal associations between television viewing and eating behaviours in adolescents

Background  

Television viewing has been associated with poor eating behaviours in adolescents. Changing unhealthy eating behaviours is most likely to be achieved by identifying and targeting factors shown to mediate the association between these behaviours. However, little is known about the mediators of the associations between television viewing and eating behaviours. The aim of this study was to examine mediators of the longitudinal associations between television viewing (TV) and eating behaviours among Australian adolescents.     

Psychosocial predictors of eating habits among adults in their mid-30s: The Oslo Youth Study follow-up 1991–1999

Background  

The predictive value of the psychosocial constructs of Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) on subsequent dietary habits has not been previously investigated in a multivariate approach that includes demographic factors and past dietary behaviour among adults. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent TPB constructs, including intention, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and perceived social norms, measured at age 25 predicted four eating behaviours (intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, total fat and added sugar) eight years later.     

Early impact of depression symptoms on the decline in activities of daily living among older Japanese: Y-HALE cohort study

Objective  

It is well known that depression deteriorates basic activities of daily living (ADLs), such as eating and bathing, among the elderly, but little is known about the early impact of depression symptoms on the next higher level of functioning, namely higher-levels ADLs, such as instrumental self-maintenance, intellectual activities, and social roles. The objective of this study was to determine whether symptoms of depression are associated with a subsequent decline in higher-level ADLs within a 12-month period of time.     

Quality of life in Brazilian obese adolescents: effects of a long-term multidisciplinary lifestyle therapy

Background  

Obesity has adverse physical, social, and economic consequences that can negatively affect quality of life (QOL). Thus the aim of this study was to verify the effects of a long-term multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention on QOL, body image, anxiety, depression and binge eating in obese adolescents.     

Development and validation of the Accommodation and Enabling Scale for Eating Disorders (AESED) for caregivers in eating disorders

Background  

Families of people with eating disorders are often caught up in rule bound eating and safety behaviours that characterise the illness. The main aim of this study was to develop a valid and specific scale to measure family accommodation in the context of having a relative with an eating disorder.     

Oxidative stress,frailty and cognitive decline

Abstract  

The causes of frailty are complex and must be accepted as multidimensional based on the interplay of genetic, biological, physical, psychological, social and environmental factors, although inflammation and oxidative stress are two factors that play an important role in the development of symptoms with those fragile states.     

Association between time-related work factors and dietary behaviors: results from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Background

Few studies have examined the association of workhours and shift work (referred to here as “time-related work factors”) with dietary behaviors. We aimed to investigate this association, as well as the dietary behaviors among individuals with occupations characterized by time-related work factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed using data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. The study included 39,315 working men. Dietary behaviors (i.e., skipping breakfast, eating out, eating instant food, overeating, and eating fast) were assessed with a self-reported information from the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations of time-related work factors with dietary behaviors and dietary behavior tendencies among those in occupations characterized by long workhours and/or shift work.

Results

Long workhours were associated with high frequencies of skipping breakfast, eating out, eating instant food, overeating, and eating fast. The frequency of having shift work was associated with high frequencies of skipping breakfast, eating out, and eating instant food. Several occupations involving long workhours and/or shift work showed specific dietary behaviors; in some occupations, the level of significance changed after adjusting for time-related work factors in addition to other potential confounding factors.

Conclusions

Time-related work factors may help explain workers’ dietary behaviors. Long workhours and shift work may lead to poor dietary behaviors. Other factors influenced by occupation itself, such as food environment, may also influence workers’ dietary behaviors. Workhours and/or shift work, and these other work factors, should be given attention in workplace health promotion.

     

The relationship between eating disorder psychopathology and health-related quality of life within a community sample

Purpose  

Recent research has begun investigating the impact of eating disorders on health-related quality of life (QOL). The present study examined the impact of eating disorder psychopathology on QOL within a community sample.     

Three factor eating questionnaire-R18 as a measure of cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating in a sample of young Finnish females

Background  

The aim of the study was to examine the construct validity of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire -R18 (TFEQ-R18), a measure of eating behaviour, and to evaluate cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating in a sample of adolescent and young adult females of different weights.     

Lay Perceptions of Healthy Eating Styles and Their Health Impacts

Objective

This study examined perceptions of healthy eating styles among US respondents to determine whether eating styles are defined as a distinct set of people's healthy eating beliefs and how different aspects of eating styles are perceived to affect health.

Die familiäre Essumgebung im ersten Lebensjahr

Background

Parents influence their children’s eating behaviour by providing the family eating environment and modelling daily routines. In particular, children of parents with a disadvantaged background show increased risks of developing inadequate eating behaviours and diet-related health problems.

Objectives

This qualitative study, using family midwives as experts, identifies needs and aspects which must be considered within well-family visits to adequately motivate socially disadvantaged families with infants and to promote a healthier family eating environment.

Materials and methods

Six qualitative expert interviews with family midwives were conducted and analysed using a thematic content-analysis.

Results and discussion

Midwives reported of unfavourable eating environments which also cohere with milieu-specific parenting practices. In many families, nutrition is not a topic that is discussed or reflected upon, partly due to parents’ lack of experience as well as the overall difficult life-situation disadvantaged parents find themselves in. To motivate young parents, consulting and supporting services must take the families circumstances into account. In particular, social factors of family and infant mealtime arrangements (when, where and with whom food is consumed as well as the mealtime atmosphere) should be discussed. Additionally, activities promoting the appreciation and implementation of preparing food and mealtimes need to be focused on. Experts emphasise the need of continuous step-by-step support for families with disadvantaged background requiring sufficient professional support services and multipliers.