Home Food Rules in Relation to Youth Eating Behaviors, Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Percent Body Fat

The Influence of the Home Food Environment on the Eating Behaviors, Family Meals, and Academic Achievement of Adolescents in Schools in the UAE

The eating behavior (EB) and habits developed during adolescence tend to persist into adulthood, with parents and caregivers playing a significant role in shaping their children's food choices. The home environment is a crucial setting for developing eating behavior during adolescence. This study aimed to explore the influence of the home food environment (HFE) and its correlates on EB, family meals (FMs), and academic achievement among adolescents in schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 304 school-aged adolescents from the UAE. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, dietary habits, information related to the HFE (food availability and accessibility), physical activity, sleep patterns, and academic achievement. Several questionnaire items were combined to create an HFE score. These questions included the frequency of weekly family meals, meal preparation practices, and accessibility to healthy and unhealthy food products and snacks at home. The HFE score was dichotomized into favorable and unfavorable HFE scores. Similarly, EB and FM scores were generated by combining responses to various related questions. The participants' weights and heights were measured. The findings reported that more than half (55%) of the adolescents were either overweight or obese. The majority of the participants had favorable HFE (57.2%), EB (69.1%), and FM scores (58.2%). The significant correlates to the HFE were as follows: male participants whose parents attended college (OR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.15-0.62; p < 0.001), high academic achievers (OR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.02-3.82; p = 0.043), and those who were physically active (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.14-2.85; p = 0.012), were more likely to have favorable HFE. Moreover, the HFE score showed a highly significant positive correlation with the EB score (r = 0.573, p < 0.001) and the FM score (r = 0.384, p < 0.001). These results underscore the critical role of a healthy HFE in shaping healthy positive eating behaviors and food choices among adolescents. They provide a foundation for developing effective, evidence-based policies that can impact the health and academic success of adolescents in the UAE.

California's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) Be Better social marketing campaign: mothers' fruit and vegetable consumption and facilitation of children's healthy behaviours

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of California Department of Public Health's three-year social marketing campaign (Be Better) to encourage healthy eating and water consumption among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) California mothers. Andreasen's social marketing framework was used to outline the development and evaluation of the campaign.

DESIGN

Quantitative, pre-post cross-sectional study with three cohorts nested within survey years. Generalised estimating equation modeling was used to obtain population estimates of campaign reach and changes in mothers' fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and facilitative actions towards their children's health behaviours.

SETTING

CalFresh Healthy Living (California's SNAP-Ed).

PARTICIPANTS

Three separate cohorts of SNAP mothers were surveyed (pre, post) between 2016 and 2018 inclusive. A total of 2229 mothers (ages 18-59) self-identified as White, Latina, African American or Asian/Pacific Islander participated.

RESULTS

Approximately 82 percent of surveyed mothers were aware of the campaign as assessed by measures of recall and recognition. Ad awareness was positively associated with mothers' FV consumption (R2 = 0·45), with the proportion of FV on plates and with behaviours that facilitate children's FV consumption and limit unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks (βs ranged from 0·1 to 0·7).

CONCLUSIONS

The campaign successfully reached 82 percent of surveyed mothers. Positive associations between California's Be Better campaign and targeted health behaviours were observed, although the associations varied by year and media channel (i.e. television, radio, billboards and digital). Most associations between ad awareness and outcomes were noted in years two and three of the campaign, suggesting that more than 1 year of campaign exposure was necessary for associations to emerge.

The Impact of Physical Activity at School on Body Fat Content in School-Aged Children

(1) Background: Excessive amounts of adipose tissue is a health risk. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of increased physical activity (PA) at school on body fat content in children aged 10 to 12 years over a 2-year follow-up. (2) Methods: Children born in 2007 (n = 245) in two groups, (1) standard PA and (2) increased PA at school, 4 and 10 h of physical education lessons per week, respectively. BIA measurements of body fat content were taken twice a year. Results were interpreted based on children's fat content reference curves. (3) Results: During 2 years of observation, the percentage of children with excessive fat mass (overweight and obese) increased by one-third (from 28.11% to 39.67%) in the group of standard PA, while decreased by one-third in the increased PA one (from 28.92% to 21.00%); with normal fat content increased by one-quarter in the increased PA group (from 59.86% to 76.26%) and decreased by one-tenth in the standard PA one (from 61.61% to 56.29%). (4) Conclusions: An increase in PA at school has a positive impact on children's body fat content. It is recommended to increase the number of physical education lessons at school, which has a positive effect on children's health, reducing the risk of obesity.

Dutch Preadolescents' Food Consumption at School: Influence of Autonomy, Competence and Parenting Practices

Eating habits appear to become less healthy once children move into adolescence. Adolescence is characterized by increasing independence and autonomy. Still, parents continue influencing adolescents' eating habits. This cross-sectional study used a Self-Determination Theory perspective to examine how parents can support preadolescents' food-related autonomy and competence and how these factors are associated with healthy eating motivation and food consumption at school. In addition, the effect of relative healthy food availability at home on preadolescents' food consumption at school was explored. In total, 142 Dutch preadolescents (mean age 12.18) and 81 parents completed questionnaires. The results showed that preadolescents perceived themselves as having higher food-related autonomy and lower competence to eat healthily as compared to their parents' perceptions. A path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized model. Although parental support was positively associated with food-related autonomy, higher food-related autonomy was related to less healthy food intake at school. On the other hand, competence to eat healthily indirectly affected preadolescents' healthy intake ratio through their healthy eating motivation. Finally, the relative availability of healthy options at home was positively associated with preadolescents' healthy intake ratio outside the home. Findings from the study advance the understanding of individual and environmental factors that influence eating habits during the key life period of early adolescence. The results may inform interventions aiming to guide preadolescents to make healthy food choices on their own.

Relationships Among the Physical and Social Home Food Environments, Dietary Intake, and Diet Quality in Mothers and Children

BACKGROUND

Both the physical and social home food environment (HFE) are believed to influence dietary intake and diet quality, but few studies have examined both aspects together.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among the physical and social HFE, dietary intake, and diet quality in mothers and children.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional substudy of a larger study.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

The study included 24 mothers (aged ≥30 years) with a biological child aged 6 to 12 years living in the Newark, DE, area between June and November 2018.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcome measures of interest included the physical HFE (ie, home food availability); aspects of the social HFE (ie, parenting styles, family meal frequency, and policies); maternal and child intake of fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages, and snacks; and diet quality using the 2015 Healthy Eating Index total score.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationship between physical HFE and dietary intake as well as social HFE and dietary intake in both mothers and children. The relationships were further examined through exploratory regression analyses.

RESULTS

In mothers, fruit availability in the physical HFE was correlated with fruit intake (r = 0.50; P = 0.02). Fruit and vegetable availability in the physical HFE were correlated with 2015 Healthy Eating Index total score in both the mother and child. Family meals participation was correlated with dietary intake (vegetable intake in children, r = 0.44; P = 0.04; and snack intake in mothers, r = -0.74; P < .001). Exploratory regression analysis showed vegetables in the HFE was associated with vegetable intake and 2015 Healthy Eating Index total score in mothers, and fruits and vegetables in the HFE were associated with child 2015 Healthy Eating Index total score. Family meals participation was negatively associated with maternal snack intake and child sugar-sweetened beverages intake. Authoritative parenting was negatively associated with child snack intake and permissive parenting was negatively associated with mother's fruit intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the physical and social HFE are associated with maternal and child dietary intake, but only the physical HFE was associated with dietary quality. Although preliminary, these data indicate the importance of future studies that include measures to assess both the physical and social HFE to better elucidate the influences of the HFE on dietary intake.

The Influence of Parental Dietary Behaviors and Practices on Children's Eating Habits

Poor dietary habits established during childhood might persist into adulthood, increasing the risk of developing obesity and obesity-related complications such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. It has been found that early modifications in eating habits, especially during childhood, might promote health and decrease the risk of developing diseases during later life. Various studies found a great influence of parental dietary habits on dietary behaviors of their children regardless of demographic characteristics such as gender, age, socioeconomic status and country; however, the exact mechanism is still not clear. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to investigate both parents’ and children’s dietary behaviors, and to provide evidence for the potential influence of parents’ dietary behaviors and practices on certain children’s eating habits. Family meals were found to contribute the most in modeling children’s dietary habits as they represent an important moment of control and interaction between parents and their children. The parental practices that influenced their children most were role modeling and moderate restriction, suggesting that the increase of parental encouragement and decrease of excessive pressure could have a positive impact in their children’s dietary behaviors. This narrative review highlights that parental child-feeding behaviors should receive more attention in research studies as modifiable risk factors, which could help to design future dietary interventions and policies to prevent dietary-related diseases.

Eating Behaviour and Physical Fitness in 10-Year-Old Children Attending General Education and Sports Classes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the body mass index (BMI), selected eating behaviour and physical fitness of children aged 10 years attending general education and sports classes in Siedlce. Subject children were 272 girls and boys mean aged 10.8-years attending general education (GC) and sports classes (SC). Survey questionnaires consisted of 18 questions about eating behaviour and physical activity. The BMI was determined for each child and compared with reference percentile charts. Eurofit testing was used to measure physical fitness. Increased physical fitness was positively correlated with beneficial eating behaviour among children. SC children showed significantly more frequent dietary intakes of milk, dairy products, poultry, fish, wholegrain bread, groats and vegetables when compared to GC ones. However, significantly more GC children ate red meat more frequently along with snacking on confectionery and savouries than SC ones. Most subjects fell within correct BMI percentile ranges. Underweight was more frequent in SC children at 12.85% than in GC children 9.88%. Overweight and obesity was most often observed in GC children (respectively 19.73% and 5.51%) compared to SC ones (respectively 14.37% and 3.8%). SC children achieved significantly better results in the Eurofit tests. The highest levels of physical fitness and most favourable BMIs and eating behaviour were observed more often among SC children than GC ones. The results confirmed the beneficial health effects of physical fitness for children.

Household Food Insecurity and Home Food Availability in Relation to Youth Diet, Body Mass Index, and Adiposity

BACKGROUND

Food security status is related to food types available in the home, which may shape youth dietary patterns, with implications for obesity.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate whether household food insecurity and home food availability (HFA) are associated with youth fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption and anthropometric outcomes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. Youth and parents completed questionnaires during in-home visits (2013-2014). Research staff obtained anthropometric measures.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

Medical record data for 10- to 15-year-old Pennsylvania youths were used to identify 434 parent-youth dyads, with 408 evaluated after excluding missing data.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Parent-reported household food security was assessed with the six-item US Department of Agriculture Food Security Scale (dichotomized as high vs low). Healthy and obesogenic HFA scales assessed parent report of how frequently particular foods were present in the home. Youth self-reported daily average F/V consumption. Anthropometric outcomes included age- and sex-standardized z scores for body mass index (BMIz), waist circumference (WCz), and percent body fat (PBFz).

STATISTICAL ANALYSES

Associations were evaluated with multivariable linear regression adjusted for youth age, sex, and race or ethnicity, and parent age and income.

RESULTS

Compared with food secure counterparts, youth from food insecure households had higher mean (beta [standard error]) BMIz (.30 [.15]), WCz (.27 [.12]), and PBFz (.43 [.16]). Food insecure households had lower mean healthy HFA scores (-1.23 [.54]); there was no evidence obesogenic HFA differed between food secure and insecure households. Youth from lower healthy HFA or higher obesogenic HFA households reported fewer mean daily F/V servings (healthy HFA: .08 [.02]; obesogenic HFA: -.06 [.02]). Food security status was not associated with F/V consumption, nor was there evidence HFA modified associations between food insecurity and anthropometric outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite an observed association between healthy HFA and youth F/V consumption, this study did not provide evidence that HFA explained associations between food insecurity and youth anthropometric outcomes.

Nutritional Status Assessment in Children and Adolescents with Various Levels of Physical Activity in Aspect of Obesity

INTRODUCTION

A rational way of nourishment, combined with adequate physical activity, are the basic components of maintaining proper body condition.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate nutritional status among children and adolescents with different levels of physical activity.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 1,013 students of both genders aged between 7 and 18 years attending elementary and post-primary schools (general and sports profile) in Siemianowice Slaskie.

RESULTS

The crude body mass index (BMI) values ranged from 12.78 to 35.3. Body mass within the limits of arbitrary standard referred to 70% of the examined group, overweight or obesity was found in over 25%. Percentage of body fat (FATP) values ranged from 5.7 to 45.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant number of children and adolescents were overweight or obese based on BMI categories and FATP values. Overweight and obesity were most common among younger children, particularly boys. Higher torso FATP levels were more common among sports-oriented class students. BMI is not a good tool for the determination of the nutritional status of children and adolescents, while the bioelectric impedance method enables one to conduct a precise analysis of adipose tissue content and location. Sports-oriented elementary school students from the study group were characterized by higher FATP values.

Body mass index, waist circumference, body fat mass, and risk of developing hypertension in normal-weight children and adolescents

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We prospectively examined the association between three adiposity indices, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and percentage of body fat (PBF), and risk of hypertension in normal-weight Chinese children.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The current study included 1526 (713 boys and 813 girls) normal-weight Chinese children (age 6-14 years old), who were free of hypertension at baseline (2014). Heights, body weight, WC, and PBF (estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis) were measured at the baseline. Blood pressure was repeatedly measured in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Hypertension was defined as either high systolic blood pressure and/or high diastolic blood pressure, according to age- and sex-specific 95th percentile for Chinese children. We used Cox proportional hazards model to calculate the association between exposures and hypertension. We identified 88 incident hypertension cases during two years of follow up. High BMI was associated with high risk of developing hypertension after adjusting for potential confounders. The adjusted hazard ratio for hypertension was 2.88 (95% CI: 1.24, 6.69) comparing two extreme BMI quartiles. Each SD increase of BMI (≈1.85 kg/m²) was associated with a 32% higher likelihood to developing hypertension (Hazard ratio = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.003, 1.73). In contrast, we did not find significant associations between WC or PBF and higher hypertension risk (p-trend >0.2 for both).

CONCLUSION

High BMI, but not WC and PBF, was associated with high risk of hypertension in normal-weight Chinese children.

A latent class analysis of family eating habits in families with adolescents

The objectives of the present study were to identify adolescent classes based on perceptions of their family's eating habits and to determine whether these classes differ in terms of family meal frequency and source, parents and adolescent diet quality, nutritional status, satisfaction with life, family life and food-related life. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of 300 two-parent families with one child between 10 and 17 years in Chile. Questionnaires included the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Satisfaction with Food-related Life scale (SWFoL), the Satisfaction with Family Life scale (SWFaL) and the Adapted Healthy Eating Index (AHEI). Adolescents also answered the Family Eating Habits Questionnaire (FEHQ). Latent class (LC) analysis was used to estimate the number of classes associated with the adolescent's perceptions about their family's eating habits, based on the three factors detected in the FEHQ. The LC analysis yielded three classes: "medium cohesion around family meals/healthy food-related parenting practices" (Class 1, 50.4%), "high cohesion around family meals/healthy food-related parenting practices" (Class 2, 25.9%) and "high cohesion around family meals/unhealthy food-related parenting practices" (Class 3, 23.7%). Classes also differed in the adolescents AHEI score, frequency and source of family meals; body mass index, SWLS and SWFaL scores in mothers, fathers and adolescents, adolescent sex and household financial situation. These findings suggest that frequent and cohesive family meals improve the well-being in both parents and adolescents, but are not enough to achieve healthier diets and weight statuses in adolescents.

Comparing objective measures of the built environment in their associations with youth physical activity and sedentary behavior across heterogeneous geographies

We compared two strategies for measuring built environment features in their associations with youth physical activity and sedentary behavior across heterogeneous geographies of Pennsylvania. Physical activity environments of communities representing a rural-to-urban gradient were characterized through direct observation and spatially referenced archival data subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. Stratified regression analyses assessed associations between environmental measures and behavioral outcomes by community type. Neither strategy was consistently associated with behavior across communities. Findings highlight the importance of differentiating community type in evaluating associations of the built environment, and the challenge of measuring meaningful differences that influence youth behavior across heterogeneous geographies.

Associations of LEP, CRH, ICAM-1, and LINE-1 methylation, measured in saliva, with waist circumference, body mass index, and percent body fat in mid-childhood

BACKGROUND

Genetics explains a small proportion of variance in body mass index at the population level. Epigenetics, commonly measured by gene methylation, holds promise for understanding obesity risk factors and mechanisms.

METHODS

Participants were 431 adolescents aged 10-15 years. BMI z-score, waist circumference z-score, and percent body fat were measured. Saliva samples were collected and methylation of promoter regions of four candidate genes or sequences (LEP, ICAM-1, CRH, and LINE-1) were measured in 3-4 CpG sites each. Linear regression was used to identify associations of methylation with obesity-related outcomes.

RESULTS

After adjusting for age, in sex-stratified analysis, the three obesity-related outcomes were negatively associated with LEP methylation in obese boys only. There were no associations of methylation of the other genes or sequences and the obesity-related outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are consistent with prior studies that reported sex differences in associations of obesity-related outcomes with LEP methylation, and also as would be expected in adipose tissue, the source of circulating leptin. The findings suggest that saliva might be an acceptable tissue for epigenetics studies in adolescents.