Helping mothers in the Dominican Republic to become facilitators of their own preschoolers' development

This paper describes and discusses an early intervention program being offered in an economically depressed area of the Dominican Republic. The main goal of the program is to empower mothers to become facilitators of their preschool children's development. Twenty-six mothers and their 4-5 year old children are currently enrolled in a year long program. In addition to helping the mothers learn about child development and care, emphasis is placed upon their own development. The methods of popular education are used in helping the mothers become facilitators. An examination of the preliminary results indicates that significant progress has been made toward reaching the goal of the program.     

学龄前儿童饮食不良习惯与父母教育方式调查

目的 了解兰州市学龄前儿童饮食不良习惯及父母教育方式状况,为儿童的健康教育提供参考依据.方法 采用自行设计调查问卷的方法随机抽取兰州市1280名儿童(3～6岁),使用SPSS 13.0统计软件进行统计、卡方检验.结果 学龄前儿童存在饮食不良习惯的有906人,占被调查总人数的74.6%;卡方检验显示,父母采用暴力惩罚、辱骂训斥、不满唠叨、引导沟通、提出期望并鼓励等因素对儿童的饮食不良习惯具有显著影响(χ2=18.991,P<0.05).结论 父母应当采用积极的教育方式对待儿童的饮食不良习惯,以促进其形成合理的饮食习惯,健康成长.     

Longitudinal and cross-sectional influences on youth fruit and vegetable consumption

Both cross-sectional and longitudinal research depict a decline in the fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) of children and youths with age, but identifying developmental changes and their influences with regard to FVC cannot be fully explained with application of only one of these research designs. Reviewed here are results from longitudinal and cross-sectional research, and a proposal is presented for a lifespan development methodology that uses a sequential design strategy to illuminate the multilevel processes that determine FVC. Conclusions from the review were similar for both cross-sectional and longitudinal research, with fruit and vegetable (FV) preferences and FV accessibility/availability being the most consistent influences on FVC. Furthermore, this review illuminates several methodological issues, offering suggestions to strengthen comparisons between studies. Research designs that incorporate longitudinal, cross-sectional, and time-lag data are warranted.     

生命早期喂养模式对学龄前儿童蔬菜和水果摄入的影响

目的 了解婴儿期母乳喂养持续时间和纯母乳喂养对学龄前期儿童蔬菜和水果摄入的影响,为婴幼儿喂养指导提供更为有力的科学依据。方法 使用已经进行的儿童肥胖研究的基线调查数据进行分析,数据为通过问卷调查的方式了解儿童婴儿期喂养基本情况和儿童膳食现状,使用Logistic回归模型对可能关联进行验证。结果 在1 189名调查儿童婴儿期,纯母乳喂养持续超过6个月的占17.1%,母乳喂养持续时间超过12个月的占9.6%。纯母乳喂养持续6个月以上的儿童在学龄前期超重肥胖发生率明显低于纯母乳喂养持续时间<6个月的儿童(2.2% &3.7%,P<0.05)。学龄前儿童摄入每周≥6次的水果和蔬菜的频率比例分别为87.5%及67.7%。婴儿期持续母乳喂养12个月及以上儿童在学龄前期摄入蔬菜频率高于母乳喂养持续时间<12个月的儿童(OR=1.251; 95%CI1.115~2.563),纯母乳喂养≥6个月的儿童较纯母乳喂养时间<6个月的儿童在学龄前期摄入蔬菜的频率高,两者存在统计学关联(OR=1.015;95%CI1.002~1.105)。母乳喂养模式与学龄前期儿童摄入水果频率差异无统计学意义(OR=0.882;95%CI0.412~1.514) &(OR=0.657;95%CI0.442~1.019)。结论 长期母乳喂养及纯母乳喂养与学龄前期儿童蔬菜摄入量存在正向关联,但与学龄前期儿童水果摄入无任何关联。生命早期科学喂养方式对于儿童生命后期营养习惯的形成乃至对营养发育的影响都十分重要的,因而社会和家庭对于母乳喂养的认识和支持也需进一步深入和提高。     

Increasing daily fruit and vegetable consumption: what changes do cardiac patients make?

BACKGROUND: Interventions targeting fruit and vegetable consumption report significant increases in consumption but do not detail how increases are achieved. This prospective study explored (i) the changes in daily fruit and daily vegetable consumption of cardiac patients participating in an intervention study and (ii) how participants made these changes. METHODS: A total of 120 cardiac patients were asked to increase their daily fruit and vegetable consumption by two portions and to maintain this over 3 months. They were telephoned at 7-, 28- and 90-day follow-up to record daily consumption using a dietary questionnaire; 94 participants completed all parts of the study. RESULTS: Mean reported daily fruit and daily vegetable consumption increased by 1.07 (SD = 1.26) and 0.34 (SD = 0.96) portions, respectively, over 3 months. These increases were statistically significant (P < 0.001) and greatest for participants who reported eating low levels of fruit and vegetables at recruitment. Eating fresh fruit as a snack and at mealtimes were preferred choices for participants. CONCLUSIONS: Providing information and telephone follow-up could be used by busy healthcare professionals instead of face-to-face contact. Interventions to increase total fruit and vegetable consumption could usefully focus on eating fruit. Interventions to increase vegetable consumption need further investigation.     

Patterns in children's fruit and vegetable consumption by meal and day of the week.

To assess differences in children's consumption of fruit and vegetables (F&V) by day of the week and meal of the day.

Baseline data from two school based nutrition education studies were combined for analysis.

2984 third grade students from 48 participating elementary schools in three school districts in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

The frequency of consumption of F&V abstracted by trained registered dietitians from prompted 7-day food records. STATISTICAL-ANALYSES PERFORMED: Mixed model analysis with meals and days as terms, controlling for the within school correlation, gender and ethnic group.

F&V were most frequently consumed at weekday lunch, and second most frequently at dinner. Participation in school lunch accounted for a substantial proportion of F&Vs consumed at lunch. Few F&Vs were consumed at breakfast or snack.

School lunch makes an important contribution to elementary school students' F&V consumption. Dietary change programs should target parents to increase F&V consumption at dinner, and target students for the meals over which they assert the most control: breakfast and snacks.     

Parental predictors of fruit and vegetable consumption in treatment‐seeking overweight children

Background: Information on the role of family dietary behaviours is needed to enable the design of effective interventions for treatment of childhood obesity. The present study aimed to analyse differences in consumption and predictors of fruit, berries and vegetables (FBV) between normal‐weight and overweight treatment‐seeking children and their parents. Methods: Fifty‐four treatment‐seeking overweight and 65 normal‐weight 8‐year‐old children and their parents participated in the present study. Children’s and parent’s consumption of FBV were assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. Availability of vegetables at home meals, child’s preference for FBV and parent’s control over portion size were determined. Weight and height were measured and the standardised body mass index of each child was calculated. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the predictors of children’s FBV consumption. Results: Normal‐weight children and parents ate FBV more frequently than overweight children. In the multiple linear regression analysis, mother’s (β = 0.476, P ≤ 0.001) and father’s consumption of FBV (β = 0.347, P = 0.001) and child’s preference for eating vegetables (β = 0.259, P = 0.002) were positively associated with the child’s consumption of FBV. In overweight children, parent’s consumption of FBV was the only predictor of the offspring’s consumption of FBV (P = 0.002). Conclusions: Predictors related to FBV consumption appear to be the similar in normal‐weight and treatment‐seeking overweight children. The findings obtained in the present study highlight the importance of parental modelling in determining the consumption of FBV in their children.     

Environmental and personal correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption in low income, urban Mexican children.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence suggests that populations with high fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption have a lower risk for childhood obesity, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. There are no studies that address the correlates of FV intake in Mexican children; therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the frequency of FV consumption by children in Mexico City's low income state schools and their personal (preferences, expectancy, knowledge and self-efficacy) and environmental (accessibility and person in charge of cooking at home) correlates. METHODS: A validated questionnaire to assess accessibility, expectancy, self-efficacy, preference and knowledge; and a 2-day dietary recall were used to assess the FV intake and its correlates in 327 children. Statistical analysis included chi-square and stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Average consumption of FV was once a day with a higher proportion of girls consuming FV 3 or more times per day (15.2% versus 6.7%; P < 0.01). The environmental factors that influenced a higher consumption of FV were the mother being responsible for cooking at home (P < 0.02) and accessibility to FV (P < 0.01); whereas the personal factors were self-efficacy (P < 0.05) and preference (P < 0.03) to vegetables. CONCLUSION: Correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption in children from Mexico City's State Schools were being female and accessibility to fruits and vegetables. Home and school environments are decisive for the children to increase FV consumption. Creative ways to encourage FV consumption in boys should be explored. These factors should be considered when designing programmes aimed at increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables in children.     

Benefits of habit‐based informational interventions: a randomised controlled trial of fruit and vegetable consumption

Objective : To assess the effectiveness of a habit‐based intervention delivered by e‐mail or sms in improving fruit and vegetable consumption among young adults. Methods : An eight‐week randomised controlled trial compared the effectiveness of three different types of message content (habit‐based messages; food‐group messages; general healthy eating messages) and two delivery methods (e‐mail versus sms) on habit strength and consumption of fruits and vegetables in 71 undergraduate participants. Results : A significant message content by time interaction indicated that the habit‐based intervention improved fruit consumption over the eight‐week period. Vegetable consumption significantly increased over the intervention period regardless of message content. Delivery method did not influence these results. Conclusion : Messages based on a habit framework can be utilised to improve fruit consumption in young adults. Furthermore, simply reminding young adults to be conscious of their food choices may be sufficient to improve their overall vegetable consumption.     

The use of inappropriate feeding practices by rural parents and their effect on preschoolers' fruit and vegetable preferences and intake

ObjectiveTo describe the frequency of inappropriate feeding practices used by parents of preschoolers and the impact on a child’s preference for and intake of fruits and vegetables (FV).DesignCross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a telephone interview.SettingA community-based program in rural southeastern Missouri.Participants1555 rural parents participating in the High 5 for Kids project. The mean age of parents was 28.9 years, the mean age for children was 38.0 months, and 52.1% of children were male.Variables MeasuredDemographic characteristics; intake and preferences for FV; inappropriate child feeding practices.AnalysisInappropriate feeding practices, preferences for and intake of FV were examined using Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman’s correlations. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationships between FV intake and preference and inappropriate feeding practices.ResultsAn increasing number of inappropriate feeding practices negatively impacted FV preference of children but positively impacted FV intake.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study documents the public health need to develop programs that guide and advise rural parents on information about how children develop patterns of intake, and how to foster children’s preferences and acceptance of healthful food.     

即时性图像法膳食调查技术应用于学龄前儿童膳食调查的效果评价

目的对即时性图像法应用于学龄前儿童膳食调查进行效果评价。方法招募60位幼儿园儿童及其家长,为儿童提供食物原料经严格称重后烹制的午餐。进餐前家长从三个角度对食物进行拍摄,同样方法拍摄剩余食物,并将图像文件发送至固定邮箱,次日接受针对儿童的24h膳食回顾调查,膳食估量小组成员对图片中的食物进行估重。得到称量数据、图像法数据和24h回顾法数据,归类汇总三组数据并进行营养计算。结果与24h回顾法数据相比,除水果和带鱼外,图像法数据与称重数据的相关性更好。除畜禽肉类和带鱼外,图像法的数据与称重法更接近。基于图像法数据计算的能量与各营养素的摄入量数据,与称重数据的计算结果更接近。结论与24h回顾法相比,用即时性图像法膳食调查技术对学龄前儿童进行膳食调查,可获得与实际重量更接近的食物消费量数据。     

A population-based study of preschoolers' food neophobia and its associations with food preferences

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the relationships between food preferences, food neophobia, and children's characteristics among a population-based sample of preschoolers. DESIGN: A parent-report questionnaire. SETTING: Child-care centers, kindergartens, playgroups, day nurseries, and swimming centers. SUBJECTS: 371 two- to five-year-old Australian children. OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations between food neophobia and the food preferences and characteristics. ANALYSIS: Analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, Pearson product-moment correlations, and Fisher z test were used to estimate and compare the associations between these variables. RESULTS: Food neophobia was associated with reduced preferences for all food groups, but especially for vegetables (r = -0.60; P < .001). It was also associated with liking fewer food types (r = -0.55; P < .001), disliking more food types (r = 0.42; P < .001), the number of untried food types (r = 0.25; P < .001), a less varied range of food preferences (r = -0.59; P < .001), and less healthful food preferences overall (r = -0.55; P < .001). No significant relationships (P < .01) were observed between food neophobia and a child's age, sex, or history of breast-feeding. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms and extends results obtained in experimental research and population-based intake studies of food neophobia to children's everyday food preferences. The findings suggest that preschool children's everyday food preferences are strongly associated with food neophobia but not with children's age, sex, or history of breast-feeding. When aiming to influence children's food preferences, the effects of food neophobia and strategies to reduce it should be considered.