How do Australian junior primary school children perceive the concepts of “healthy” and “unhealthy”?

Brindal, Emily; Hendrie, Gilly A.; Thompson, Kirrilly; Blunden, Sarah

doi:10.1108/09654281211253425

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Studies examining children's decisions about what is 'healthy' and 'less healthy' reveal complex relationships between diet and health (Dixey et al 2001), and diet and physical activity (Brindal et al 2012). Children understand healthy eating and have a high awareness of food 'healthiness' (Dixey et al 2001;Hesketh et al 2005;O'Dea 2003;Protudjer et al 2010), particularly of whole foods and ingredients (Thompson et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Nutritional components and children's interpretations of packaged food

Brierley

Elliott

2015

International Journal of Health Promotion and Education

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Recent policy recommendations encourage efforts to support children's healthy dietary choices, particularly in light of concerns over the marketing of foods to children and the link between diet and noncommunicable disease. This study conducted focus groups with children to examine what is salient to them when identifying the health qualities of packaged foods. Twelve focus groups of 4 -6 participants (divided by age and gender) were conducted with children in grades 1 -6. When asked to consider how to make 'healthy' and 'less healthy' packaged food choices, children focused primarily on sugar, salt, fat, fibre, and calories. Sugar was deemed unhealthy across the grades, but was re-categorized as healthy in forms other than white sugar (e.g., honey, brown sugar). Fibre was designated as healthy. Sodium and fat signalled an unhealthy food for grades 1 -2, but was deemed acceptable in 'lower' amounts for grades 3 -6 children. Calories were interpreted as 'less healthy' when associated with fat and sugar, and 'healthier' when viewed as energy. Boys were more concerned with fat and calories compared to girls who did not favour any particular nutritional component. Although children may not be expected to use nutritional components to classify foods as 'healthy' or 'less healthy', and previous research demonstrates they are not developmentally ready to navigate such abstract concepts, this study shows that children nonetheless use nutritional components to support their packaged food choices. The research raises questions about how to help children make 'healthy' packaged food choices under current food labelling practices.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Nutritional components and children's interpretations of packaged food

Brierley

Elliott

2015

International Journal of Health Promotion and Education

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“…The influence of parent–child interactions on healthy diet is strongest when children are aged 5–11 years old (Cislak et al, 2012). Previous research indicated that children as young as 5–9 years old perceive their parents as the primary source of nutrition information (Brindal, Hendrie, Thompson, & Blunden, 2012). During the adolescence period, parental influence decreases while peers and media start to play a significant role in shaping adolescents’ beliefs and behaviors (Cislak et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental and Child Self‐Efficacy Explaining Food Intake through Self‐Regulation: A Dyadic Prospective Study

Zarychta

Banik

Kuliś

et al. 2020

Applied Psych Health & Well

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Background According to social cognitive theory and socio‐ecological models, self‐efficacy and temptation‐related self‐regulation (the use of distraction or suppression) are modifiable predictors of health behaviors, such as food intake. Yet, there is limited evidence explaining how these factors are interlinked among parent‐child dyads. This study investigated indirect effects of parental and child self‐efficacy on food intake, via parental and child self‐regulation. Methods The prospective study (the baseline [T1] and the 10‐month follow‐up [T2]) enrolled 924 parent‐child dyads (1,848 individuals; 54.3% girls, aged 5–11 years, 88.9% mothers). Dyads were interviewed or completed self‐report measures. Path analyses with maximum likelihood estimation were conducted. Results Child self‐efficacy and distraction (T1) mediated between parental self‐efficacy (T1) and higher levels of child fruit and vegetable intake (T2). No significant mediating effects of suppression were found, nor indirect effects of parental self‐efficacy (T1) on energy‐dense food intake (T2). Conclusion Health promotion interventions aiming at changing fruit and vegetable intake among 5–11‐year‐old children should target enhancing parental and child self‐efficacy that may facilitate the use of self‐regulation and, in turn, healthy diet.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research investigating children's perception of healthy food environment indicated that those who are 5-9 years old perceive their parents and mass media as the primary source of nutrition information [17]. Thus, at-home availability of healthy food and perceptions of food advertising have been investigated in children as young as 5-9 years old [17,18]. Although teachers are reported by children as the source of information on healthy food, qualitative research did not elicit perceptions of programs at local community or at the school setting as relevant sources of information about health or healthy diet among young children [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, at-home availability of healthy food and perceptions of food advertising have been investigated in children as young as 5-9 years old [17,18]. Although teachers are reported by children as the source of information on healthy food, qualitative research did not elicit perceptions of programs at local community or at the school setting as relevant sources of information about health or healthy diet among young children [17]. Therefore, an adequate approach to investigate perceptions of 5-11 years old children may be to focus on at-home availability of food or perceptions of advertising, instead of testing young children's perceptions of a broader environment (e.g., local community).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do Parent–Child Dyads with Excessive Body Mass Differ from Dyads with Normal Body Mass in Perceptions of Obesogenic Environment?

et al. 2020

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Background: This study addressed differences between parent–child dyads with excessive body mass (overweight or obesity) and dyads with normal body mass in obesity determinants, derived from social-ecological models. It was hypothesized that parents and their 5–11 years-old children with excessive body mass would (1) report lower availability of healthy food at home, (2) perceive fewer school/local community healthy eating promotion programs, (3) report lower persuasive value of food advertising. Methods: Data were collected twice (T1, baseline; T2, 10-month follow-up), including n = 129 parent–child dyads with excessive body mass and n = 377 parent–child dyads with normal body mass. Self-reported data were collected from parents and children; with body weight and height assessed objectively. General linear models (including analysis of variance with repeated measures) were performed to test the hypotheses. Results: Compared to dyads with normal body mass, dyads of parents and children with excessive body mass perceived lower availability of healthy food at home and fewer healthy eating promotion programs at school/local community (T1 and T2). These effects remained significant after controlling for sociodemographic variables. No significant differences in persuasive value of food advertising were found. Conclusions: Perceptions of availability of healthy food at home and healthy nutrition promotion may be relatively low in parent–child dyads with excessive weight which, in turn, may constitute a risk factor for maintenance of obesity.

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How do Australian junior primary school children perceive the concepts of “healthy” and “unhealthy”?

Cited by 10 publications

References 26 publications

Nutritional components and children's interpretations of packaged food

Nutritional components and children's interpretations of packaged food

Parental and Child Self‐Efficacy Explaining Food Intake through Self‐Regulation: A Dyadic Prospective Study

Do Parent–Child Dyads with Excessive Body Mass Differ from Dyads with Normal Body Mass in Perceptions of Obesogenic Environment?

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