Effects of peer influence on dietary intake and physical activity in schoolchildren

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the dietary intake and physical activity of boys and girls aged 9-13 years, and the influence of peers on these behaviours. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Nine primary and secondary schools in south-west London. Subjects: A total of 315 children wore sealed pedometers, provided self-report measures of dietary intake and answered a questionnaire relating to peer influence. Anthropometric measures of height and weight were also obtained. Results: Obese children had the lowest reported energy intakes and the lowest step counts per day. Boys took significantly more steps per day than girls, however girls were closer to achieving their recommended cut-offs for physical activity. Girls had lower energy intakes per day and lower BMI Z-scores than boys, however both genders, across all age groups, had higher than recommended intakes of saturated fat. There were significant associations between peer influence and physical activity levels but not between peer influence and dietary intake. Conclusions: Low energy intake and physical activity levels but high saturated fat intakes among boys and girls across all age groups highlight the importance of promoting both physical activity and healthy food choices. The finding that peers have a significant effect on physical activity levels but not on dietary intake offers an important approach for the design of health promotion interventions and obesity prevention programmes. Such designs may be particularly beneficial for obese youth, since the low physical activity levels found could be a major contributing factor to the maintenance of the condition.

Teacher and Friend Social Support: Association with Body Weight in African-American Adolescent Females

“…Our findings differ from studies by Finnerty et al and Coppinger et al that reported significant association between peer influence and physical activity, but no association between peer influence and dietary behaviors [28, 29]. However, the studies by Finnerty et al and Coppinger et al were conducted in the UK and make no mention of examining gender and race differences [28, 29]. Our study is unique because it specifically examined African-American adolescent female population and peer and teacher influence on specific diet components and self-efficacy.…”

Factors that influence obesity in children at primary schools in England and France

“…A power calculation was carried out (G Power 3; Düsseldorf, Germany) based on a similar study investigating dietary intakes and physical activity in school-aged children by Finnerty et al (2010), which indicated that a minimum of 47 children would be required for each group. However, recruitment was opportunistic, and with the support of teachers and parents it was possible to exceed the minimum.…”

“…Obesity programmes that consider aspects of both nutrition and physical activity are more likely to be successful (Finnerty et al 2010). Both the UK and France offer the option of dinner at school.…”

Development and Validation of a Short Scale to Measure How Social Relationships Support the Continuous and Conscious Endeavour to Lose Weight

“…The need for a short scale to measure social support in the weight-loss context Many interventions have been conducted using these basic social support and LOC theories, but research findings have not always been consistent (Sallis et al, 1987;Gorin et al, 2008;Bahr et al, 2009;Finnerty et al, 2010). With regard to social relationships, for instance, some people lose weight if supported in terms of diet and exercise by co-operative spouses, while others, naturally, are influenced by a shared environment of obesity-promoting habits and traditions.…”