Children’s healthy eating habits and parents’ socio-demographic characteristics in rural Texas, USA

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuewei Chen ◽  
Nafissatou Cisse-Egbuonye ◽  
Erica C Spears ◽  
Rahma Mkuu ◽  
E Lisako J McKyer

Objective: Due to the disproportionately high rates of obesity within the US Hispanic community, there is a critical need to address this health disparity issue. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between parents’ socio-demographic characteristics and their children’s food consumption. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Participants were recruited from schools in a predominately Hispanic rural area of Texas, USA. Method: Parents ( n = 298) of fourth grade (9–10 years old) children completed the survey. The independent variables were parents’ socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. ethnicity and income). The outcome variable was a Healthy Eating Index that refleting children’s frequencies of food consumption measured as daily frequency of consumption for healthy foods (e.g. skimmed milk), less healthy foods (e.g. potato) and unhealthy foods (e.g. Coke). We performed multiple linear regression. Results: Regression analysis shows that 13.7% variance of children’s food consumption could be predicted by their parents’ gender, ethnicity, marital status, education and income ( R2 = .137, p < 0.01). Parents’ ethnicity, education and income variables were strong predictors for children’s food consumption. Conclusion: Healthy eating can help reduce childhood obesity; however, we found children of US Hispanic parents ate less healthily. Culturally specific education programmes should be adopted for parents or families of Hispanic or Latino origin.

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 2267-2273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélida Ventura Barbosa Gonçalves ◽  
Diogo Thimoteo da Cunha ◽  
Elke Stedefeldt ◽  
Veridiana Vera de Rosso

The aim of this study was to characterize the process of buying Family Farming (FF) food for the Brazilian School Feeding Program (BSFP) and compare the quality of menus served to the schoolchildren before and after the implementation of Law n. 11,947/09. This is an observational cross-sectional study developed with application of semi-structured questionnaire and evaluating menus. Eighty-two cities from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil participated of the study. Of these cities reported, 74.1% performed the purchase of products of FF for BSFP. The lack of interest of farmers and the deficient hygienic and sanitary conditions were the main difficulties reported. The quality of the menus offered to the schoolchildren improved significantly after the implementation of FF purchases. The partnership between FF and BSFP can contribute greatly to the development of healthy eating habits, not only by offering better nutritional quality menus, but also by implementing of nutritional education activities guided by the sustainable production and consumption of food.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-216
Author(s):  
Renata Bernardon ◽  
Bethsáida De Abreu Soares Schmitz ◽  
Elisabetta Gioconda Iole Recine ◽  
Maria De Lourdes Carlos Ferreirinha Rodrigues ◽  
Cristine Garcia Gabriel

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify experiences with gardens in public schools in the Distrito Federal, Brazil, and to analyze factors involved in their use to promote healthy eating habits. METHODS: This is an analytical cross-sectional study with data collection in two phases: (1) telephone contact with all public schools in the Distrito Federal; (2) interviews conducted with a sample of schools with a garden (n=105). RESULTS: Of the 582 schools in the Distrito Federal, 453 (77.8%) participated in phase 1 and 37.7% of these had a garden. Rural schools had a higher prevalence of gardens (p=0.003). Among the schools which had no garden, 75.2% (n=212) had interest in creating one. The main reason for the deactivation of gardens was a lack of manpower to maintain them. The main reason for creating a garden was to supplement school food (56.2%). The garden was used as an educational space to promote healthy eating habits by 60.8% of the schools. CONCLUSION: An expressive percentage of schools with gardens (37.7%) was identified in the Distrito Federal. A number of factors were associated with the presence of a garden, including the location and size of the school, as well as the level of education. A significant percentage of schools reported using the garden as a space to promote healthy eating habits. This result must be refined by assessing the use and impact of gardens as a tool to promote healthy eating habits in the school community.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1505
Author(s):  
Roselinde L. van Nee ◽  
Ellen van Kleef ◽  
Hans C. M. van Trijp

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.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2097
Author(s):  
Kelly Cosgrove ◽  
Christopher Wharton

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial lifestyle changes. No US study has identified predictors of perceived dietary healthfulness changes during the pandemic period. This study included analyses of lifestyle and dietary healthfulness changes using 958 survey responses from US primary household food purchasers. Information was collected related to demographics, COVID-19-related household changes, and health-related habits before and during the pandemic. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of perceived increase in dietary healthfulness during the pandemic period. Overall, 59.8%, 16.4%, and 23.4% of participants reported that their eating habits likely changed, may have changed, and likely did not change, respectively. Of the participants whose dietary habits likely or may have changed, 64.1%, 16.8%, and 19% reported healthier, neither healthier nor less healthy, and less healthy eating habits, respectively. COVID-19-related income loss, more meals consumed with household members in front of the television, an increase in food advertisement exposure, increased perceived stress, and better perceived current health were significant predictors of a perceived increase in dietary healthfulness. Overall, dietary habits were perceived to become healthier during the pandemic. The predictors of perceived improvement in dietary healthfulness were surprising and indicate the need for further study of these factors in crisis and noncrisis situations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo C. Noronha ◽  
Monique I. A. F. Santos ◽  
Adrianny A. Santos ◽  
Lizia G. A. Corrente ◽  
Rúbia K. N. Fernandes ◽  
...  

Nutrition education is one of the factors that may help to promote behavior change and therefore may improve the dietary habits of adolescent soccer players. However, information about the relationship between nutrition knowledge (NK) and the dietary behavior of these athletes is scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the eating habits of adolescent soccer players and analyse the correlations among dietary intake and NK. Seventy-three Brazilian adolescent soccer players (aged 14–19 years), from four professional clubs, underwent anthropometric evaluation and completed 3-day food records. Misreporting of energy intake was evaluated and the dietary intake data were energy-adjusted and compared with recommendations for athletes and dietary reference intakes. The athletes also answered a questionnaire about barriers for healthy eating and a nutrition knowledge test divided into three sections: Basic Nutrition Knowledge (BNK), Sports Nutrition Knowledge (SNK), and Food Pyramid Nutrition Knowledge (FPNK). The participants showed a low NK (54.6%) and an inadequate intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, carbohydrates, and micronutrients. A positive correlation was found between the ingestion of phosphorus and FPNK as well as among calcium and both SNK and Total NK (p<0.05). Sodium intake was negatively correlated with all categories of the NK test (p<0.05). The adolescents reported that the principal barriers for adopting a healthy diet were the lack of willpower and a busy lifestyle. In this context, nutrition education is recommended and should also provide practicable healthy eating goals according to athletes´ lifestyle as well as target motivational barriers to increase adherence.


2019 ◽  
pp. 830-851
Author(s):  
Carminda Goersch Lamboglia ◽  
Lucas de Moura Carvalho ◽  
Jose Eurico de Vasconcelos Filho ◽  
Francisco Cristiano Lopes de Sousa ◽  
Carlos Bruno Silva

The introduction of new technologies into childrenʼs daily routines is in many cases associated with negative health impacts. However, technology may also be used to promote healthy practices by way of so-called serious games. Several studies have confirmed that the use of such tools can result in significant health gains, the adoption of healthy eating habits, the practice of an active lifestyle, increased energy expenditure and decreased adiposity. In this context, the authors report a case study that portrays the process of designing and developing an interactive digital mobile game, designed to motivate children to adopt exercise and healthy eating habits. The player interacts with the game through health metrics, the evolution of the main character, notifications/messages about healthy foods and exercise, and virtual and real-life rewards. The development of a health promotion game is not a simple task and requires a multidisciplinary team.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Blamires Santos Porto ◽  
Bethsáida Abreu Soares Schmitz ◽  
Elisabetta Recine ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Carlos Ferreirinha Rodrigues

Objective: To characterize the school cafeterias in the Federal District of Brazil with respect to the promotion of healthy eating in schools. Methods: This is a descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study, with a representative sample of schools with cafeterias in the Federal District, Brazil (n=202). The data were collected from April to November 2010 by means of on-site interviews and a structured questionnaire. The Pearson's chi-squared and Student's t tests were used. Results: A higher prevalence of outsourcing, and few employees and dieticians were observed. The prevailing foods were baked sausage, cheese, or chicken rolls or pastries. It was also found that 42.2% of the schools influence the menu of the cafeterias, and 58.6% of the representatives believe in the possibility of influencing the students' eating habits. However, 68.0% of the respondents do not believe in the economic feasibility of completely healthful school cafeterias. Approximately 30.0% of the respondents carry out activities to promote healthy eating. Conclusion: Most of the school cafeterias in the Federal District do not encourage healthful eating. The high prevalence of outsourced services with little interference from the school community gives high autonomy to the cafeteria's owner, whose priority is the pursuit of profit at the expense of the students' nutritional education. Improving the nutritional quality of school foods should be a continuous interactive effort of the food suppliers, principals, students, parents, and government authorities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nágila Araújo de CARVALHO ◽  
Karine Anusca MARTINS ◽  
Lucilene Maria de SOUSA

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the factors associated with the consumption of extra institutional foods and the food preferences of full-time students. Methods A cross-sectional study with students from full-time municipal schools in the city of Goiânia, Brazil, from 6 to 14 years of age, both sexes and without food restrictions. The per capita family income, maternal education, nutritional status, the consumption of extra institutional foods (meals not provided by the school) in each meal and their source, and foods with higher or lower preference in school eating habits were verified. Both a Chi-Square and a Linear Trend tests were used to analyze the data. Results Three hundred and fifty nine students participated, most of them aged between 6 and 10. More than one third consumed extra institutional foods (44.0%), with the highest frequency of consumption during the mid-morning snack (34.0%). These foods mainly originated from their own households (48.7%) and one of the main items consumed was carton juice. There was an association between adolescents and mothers with higher education levels and the consumption of these items during lunch, and between students who are non-overweight and their consumption in the afternoon snack. The preferred foods were chocolate milk and bread with butter/margarine, rice and beans, passion fruit juice, and bread with cheese/requeijão and less preferably: caramelized milk and salt biscuit, beans and beets, coconut porridge and bread with cheese. Conclusion There was a high frequency of extra institutional food consumption, associated to the age group, to a higher educational level of the mother and students who are non-overweight. Foods of higher and lower preference included dairy foods and beans.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 117863881881884
Author(s):  
Dalila Pinto de Souza Fernandes ◽  
Maria Sônia Lopes Duarte ◽  
Milene Cristine Pessoa ◽  
Sylvia do Carmo Castro Franceschini ◽  
Andréia Queiroz Ribeiro

Background: The food consumption assessment is necessary to monitor elderly’s nutritional status because it allows detecting nutrition deficits and guiding the elaboration of effective conducts. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the global quality of the elderly’s diet in Viçosa—MG, Brazil. Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional study, involving noninstitutionalized elderly. Diet quality was assessed through the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index-Revised (BHEI-R) validated to the Brazilian population. Results: The study comprised 620 elderly individuals. The mean total BHEI-R score was 64.28. The worse consumption scores concerned the components Whole grains, Milk and derivatives, Sodium, Total fruit, and Whole fruit. Approximately 82% scored zero (0%) for Whole grains and 67% for Sodium. Men presented significantly lower scores than women, who have presented maximal score in the same items. Women’s scores were not only significantly higher for Total fruit, Whole fruit, Milk and derivatives, but also significantly lower for Saturated fat. Discussion: Most elderly need to improve their diet quality. Strategies heading toward the improvement of diet quality must be priority in policies to health promotion toward the healthy and active aging.


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