Effects of family-togetherness on the food selection by primary and junior high school students: family-togetherness means better food

To see how different foods were selected depending on family-togetherness at breakfast and dinner, we investigated the meals of eight thousand primary and four thousand junior high school students by questionnaire. About 70% of primary school children but less than 50% of junior high school children ate breakfast with their family. The food, eaten by children who ate meals together with their family, took more time for cooking and was more traditional with rice as the staple. Food eaten by children who did not eat with their family lacked both preparation time and staple base. Family-togetherness affects the foods of primary school children more than those of junior high school students.     

Study among university students in Seville

The authors describe the feeding habits of nursing students at the Francisco Maldonado University School of Nursing in Osuna. Usually, they eat three meals a day, breakfast, lunch and supper and the majority dine in their academic dormitory. The most common breakfast is coffee accompanied by toast. Cooking for oneself or for one's colleagues is a common custom. The students in our sample have feeding habits which are characterized by a high consumption of meat, an adequate consumption of complex carbohydrates as shown by eating an average of 3.48 servings of rice or pasta per week and an inadequate consumption of the following: an average of 3.48 servings per week of vegetables, 4.75 servings per week of fruit, 2.22 servings per week of fish, 3.97 servings per week of bread, and 5.5 servings per week of milk. The data obtained indicate that the feeding habits of this sample study group are not the adequate ones.     

Parental influence on models of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in children.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle behaviors such as overeating and physical inactivity contribute significantly to CVD, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adults globally. CVD risk factors that begin in children often track into adulthood. Parents are believed to influence the health behaviors of their children. OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on parental influence on children's health beliefs and behaviors, particularly eating and exercise behaviors as indicators of CV health, school-based CVD risk reduction programs, and racial/ethnic, gender and socioeconomic considerations for models of primary prevention of CVD in children. METHODS: Seventeen studies that included parents as either a source of information, change agent or participant in a CVD risk reduction intervention were identified searching the Medline, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases from 1980 through 2002. RESULTS: Children's lifestyle health beliefs and behaviors are significantly influenced by positive parental modeling and involvement in exercise and healthy eating; parental influence on children's behavior lasts beyond adolescence; parents are effective teachers of health habits at home when prompted by health educators; and parental influences vary by ethnicity/race, socioeconomics and gender. CONCLUSIONS: A broader base of knowledge that is socioculturally sensitive must be developed about what parents and children believe is healthy, how parents model beliefs and behaviors for their children, and how to build self-efficacy for positive health behaviors.     

Effects of providing a nutrition education program for teenagers: Dietary and physical activity patterns

This study enhanced nutritional knowledge in an education program and encouraged healthy dietary habits and regular physical activity among teenagers. A total of 203 adolescents from a secondary school in Hong Kong took part in the study. Their Body Mass Index, dietary habits, and physical exercise pattern were recorded and examined before and after the health education program. The prevalence of overweight and obesity, together with the fat composition, were high among the participants before the nutrition education program. There was a marked gain in knowledge upon its completion. A follow-up action conducted 3 months later revealed positive outcomes in relation to the diet and physical activity level. The teenagers were able to take control of their health and requested the tuck shop to sell more healthy food and reduce the supply of unhealthy items. The educational initiatives in dietary habits and physical activities proved to be effective in encouraging the teenagers to eat more healthily and to adopt an active lifestyle.     

Healthy eating for rural low-income toddlers: caregivers' perceptions.

Caregivers exert a powerful influence on young children's eating habits. This qualitative study used focus groups to assess nutritional needs and barriers in establishing healthy eating habits in toddlers. Three focus groups were conducted with rural, low-income caregivers, 2 with men and 1 with women, in 3 rural Michigan counties. Four major themes emerged: (a) barriers to providing healthy meals, (b) division of responsibility, (c) mealtime behavior, and (d) desired nutrition education. The major barriers identified were work schedules; cost of food; inadequate time to shop, plan, and prepare nutritious meals; or a combination thereof. Caregivers expressed concern for the nutritional well-being of their toddlers. The perceived needs and perceptions of low-income caregivers need to be considered when providing nutrition education. Findings from this study provided the basis for developing a nutrition education intervention for low-income parents of young children.     

京沪两地小学生早餐行为调查及影响因素分析

背景每天吃早餐是世界卫生组织倡导的一种促进健康的行为,而早餐常被忽视. 目的了解京沪两地小学生早餐现状及影响早餐的行为因素,为深入研究小学生早餐问题,制定和开展"学生营养早餐计划"提供科学依据.设计以小学生为研究对象,采用分层整群抽样方法,调查研究.单位二所大学的儿少卫生研究所.对象2002-03/06,调查对象是北京、上海两城市8 688名6～11岁的学生.其中北京6～11岁的小学生共4 692名,有效问卷4637份.男2 386名,女生为2 251名.上海6～11岁的小学生4 300名,有效问卷4 051份.男2 031名,女2 020名.方法采用问卷调查的方法.调查内容包括家庭一般情况、饮食喜好、早餐食物选择、奶类摄入等情况.结果小学生不能保证每天吃早餐的比例分别为北京男生25.8%、女生21.6%;上海男生11.4%、女生13.3%.学生不吃早餐的原因主要是没有食欲、没有时间吃、家长没时间.学生早餐食物品种单调,质量较差.学生早餐55%以上由母亲准备,食用早餐的地点以家里为主,其次为上学路上和饭馆小摊,早餐费用2～3元.学生吃早餐的行为与其母亲的吃早餐行为密切相关(r=0.4333,P<0.01).结论京沪两地小学生的早餐质量有待改善,父母的饮食行为影响到其子女的饮食行为.     

Breakfast: a good habit, not a repetitive custom

In developed countries, obesity is the most frequent nutritional disorder, and overweight and obesity prevalences have increased whilst physical activity and breakfast consumption have declined. There is growing scientific interest in the possible role of breakfast in weight control and in factors such as appetite control, dietary quality and reduced risk for chronic diseases. The current article reviews the literature and discusses how the breakfast 'environment' and the composition of breakfast meals might be improved, particularly in children, so as to maintain the breakfast eating habit throughout life. Recommendations are proposed to encourage children to keep eating breakfast and the nutritional composition of the 'American breakfast' and two types of Mediterranean 'cereal breakfasts' are compared. We also propose a new breakfast type for children and adolescents that is based on chocolate hazelnut spread within a mixed breakfast type in order to reinforce positive experiences.     

Parental perceptions of the schools' role in addressing childhood obesity.

As childhood obesity has increased, schools have struggled with their role in this epidemic. Parents with a school-age child in a suburban latchkey program were surveyed regarding their perceptions of childhood obesity, body mass index, and the school's role in prevention and treatment of obesity. More than 80% of participants identified inactivity, poor eating behavior, lack of parental control in what children eat, and eating too much as the main causes of childhood obesity. Parents preferred receiving information about their child's body mass index from the school via a letter from the school nurse. Participants agreed that physical education classes, as well as units on nutrition and weight control, should be present in schools. Parents also supported eliminating junk food machines and offering special low-calorie meals. By supporting these strategies, parents indicated that schools should have a role in childhood obesity. School nurses can advocate for parental preferences in their school district.     

Self-reported knowledge and behaviors related to oral and dental health in Turkish children

AIM: The purpose of the study was to present oral- and dental health-related knowledge and behaviors of children who presented to Akdeniz University Medical Faculty Pediatric Outpatient Clinic between March 1 and May 1, 2006 for non-dental health reasons. METHOD: Data were collected from a total of 173 children. A survey which contained questions about the children's oral and dental health was completed using face-to-face interview technique. RESULTS: Forty-eight percent of the children were 5-6 years old and 68.8% were not going to school. It was determined that 43.3% of the mothers of the children in the study had a primary-school level of education and 74.6% were housewives. It also was determined that 49.1% of the children had never had a cavity, 43.4% stated that they brushed their teeth after meals, and 30.6% stated that they brushed at least once a day. More than sixty percent of the children spent their allowance on chocolate, chips, cola, candy, and other acidic drinks. A significant relationship was found between the children's ages and having a caries in this study. There also was a statistically significant relationship between the parents' tooth-brushing habit and the children's tooth brushing, and between the parents' frequency of tooth brushing and the children's frequency of tooth brushing. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the study it is recommended that both children and their families be given education about oral and dental health.     

我国11城市3～6岁儿童单纯肥胖症危险因素分析

目的 探索我国城市3 ～6 岁儿童生活方式和饮食习惯与肥胖的关系,为制订儿童肥胖干预策略提供依据.方法 采用分层整群抽样,分别从成都、济南、深圳、沈阳、上海、重庆、郑州、西安、长沙、青岛和海口11 个城市中随机抽取3 个城区,每个城区随机抽取幼儿园6 所,所有在园儿童进行体格测量,以WHO 的身高标准体重加2 个标准差作为肥胖判断标准.将调查中确诊的单纯肥胖症儿童与同性别、同年龄、同班级的正常体重儿童进行1∶2配对后,对所有肥胖儿童和配对的正常体重儿童进行家长自填问卷调查,回收的完整调查问卷中2218 份肥胖问卷和5380 份正常体重问卷,分别作为本研究的肥胖组和对照组.结果 单因素和多因素Logistic 回归分析结果显示,高出生体重(OR ＝1.48)、母亲受教育程度低(OR ＝1.20)、父母超重(OR ＝1.55、OR ＝1.81)、每周食用甜饮料≥3 次(OR ＝1.34)、食欲好(OR ＝4.07)、进食速度快(OR ＝2.77)、4 个月前非纯母乳喂养(OR ＝1.71)为儿童肥胖发生的危险因素;分别有45.6%和84.9%的肥胖儿童家长对儿童体型和肥胖对健康危害的认识做出不正确的评价和存在错误认识;分别有53.4%、43.3%和51.2%的肥胖儿童家长有鼓励进食、食物奖励和不限制零食的行为.结论 3 ～6 岁儿童肥胖的发生与家庭养育环境密切相关,喂养方式、饮食习惯和错误的育儿观念是儿童肥胖发生的主要危险因素.     

Promoting a healthy childcare environment: A focus group study of childcare providers' perspectives

Establishing healthy habits in the childcare setting for children aged 2–5 is pivotal for their healthy development and obesity prevention. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and practices that childcare providers demonstrate when they promote healthy eating and physical activity among preschoolers. Four focus group interviews with 16 childcare providers were conducted in northwest Florida. A semistructured focus group guide was used. Discussions were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was performed to analyze the data with the use of ATLAS.ti software. This study followed the COREQ guidelines. Three major themes emerged from the data: (i) efforts to encourage children to eat healthfully and engage in physical activity; (ii) challenges in promoting healthy behaviors among children; and (iii) the need for more childcare provider training and parental involvement to encourage healthy eating. Regular childcare provider training and parental involvement are needed to establish a healthy environment for preschoolers.     

Health-related quality of life in Austrian elementary school children

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is frequently used as an outcome criterion to evaluate the quality and effect of different therapies. However, little is known about the HRQL of the general population, the prevalence of specific HRQL problems and about which factors have an impact on HRQL assessments. OBJECTIVE: To examine children's HRQL from their own and their parents' perspectives. The study sample consisted of children attending the third and fourth grades of elementary school in the capital of Austria, Europe. METHODS: One thousand four hundred twelve children and 1185 parents completed child- and parent-versions of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventorytrade mark (PedsQLtrade mark). In addition to the PedsQL questions, children and parents were asked a number of questions with regard to sociodemographic information and specific problems that were hypothesized to be associated with the children's HRQL. RESULTS: Altogether, the children demonstrated a good HRQL and their PedsQL scores were similar to those of children from other developed countries. About 15% of children showed a notably low HRQL, and two-thirds of these children were from financially less privileged families. Multivariate regression analyses identified the following factors associated with the children's HRQL: the family's perceived financial situation, parents' quality of life, children's school performance, medical and/or psychologic problems (eg, dyslexia, recurrent stomachache or headaches), chronic disease, a recent life-event (eg, divorce/separation of parents), and parents' satisfaction with school. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing children's HRQL may be helpful to take preventive action and to identify those who are in urgent need of special services.     

Comparisons of parent cardiovascular knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors based on screening and perceived child risks

Questionnaire reports and universal screening procedures from 244 children (kindergarten, 5th grade, and 9th grade) were used to explore differences in parent health knowledge and attitudes of cardiovascular risks among children and parental involvement in promoting healthy lifestyles relative to whether their children were identified as being overweight or at risk of being overweight. The knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the parents of children who were identified as being at risk or overweight were further examined based on their perceptions of their children's level of risk. Parents' reports demonstrated significantly greater parent encouragement and knowledge of issues related to eating healthier foods and ways to cut calories among parents of children who were identified as being at risk or already overweight. A significant portion of parents underestimated their children's weight risks. Differences in parents' appraisals of their children's overweight risks were associated with differences in their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. These findings illustrate the need to address inaccuracies in parents' assessments of their children's overweight risks to improve parent investment and involvement in children's health modification programs.     

Age differences in expectations and readiness regarding lifestyle modifications in individuals at high risk of diabetes

Bouchard DR, Langlois M-F, Domingue M-E, Brown C, LeBrun V, Baillargeon J-P. Age differences in expectations and readiness regarding lifestyle modifications in individuals at high risk of diabetes.ObjectiveThe main objective of this study was to determine whether expectations and readiness to modify eating habits and physical activity (PA) level are different between young and older individuals with prediabetes who agreed to participate in a lifestyle modification program.DesignCross-sectional analysis.SettingPrimary care or referral center.ParticipantsAdults between ages 27 and 78 years (N=74) were tested before starting a 12-month lifestyle intervention.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresThe visual analog scale questionnaire was used to assess expectations and readiness (ie, intentions, conviction, and self-confidence) to modify the PA level and eating habits. The PA level was assessed with a pedometer and eating habits with a questionnaire. Analyses were stratified by the age group: <60 years old versus ≥60 years old.ResultsBody mass loss expectations in terms of goal (?22.9% vs ?17.9% of the current body mass; P=.04), acceptable (?15.6% vs ?9.4%; P=.01), and failure (?7.6% vs ?3.8%; P=.05) in future body mass loss were all greater for the younger group. Despite no significant age group difference in the initial PA level and eating habits, the youngest group had a greater intention to increase the PA level (89% vs 81%; P=.004) and to eat healthier (90% vs 85%; P=.001). Finally, the PA level and the consumption of fruits and vegetables, but not body mass, were associated with intentions or self-confidence to make some lifestyle modifications within age groups.ConclusionsIn individuals at high risk for diabetes, increasing age is associated with lower expectations and reduced readiness with regard to lifestyle modifications. Thus, age should be considered when planning a lifestyle modification program.