Parent Diet Quality and Energy Intake Are Related to Child Diet Quality and Energy Intake

Abstract

Background Parents' diets are believed to influence their children's diets. Previous studies have not adequately and simultaneously assessed the relation of parent and child total diet quality and energy intake. Objective To investigate if parent and child diet quality and energy intakes are related. Design A cross-sectional analysis using baseline dietary intake data from the Neighborhood Impact on Kids (NIK) study collected in 2007-2009. Participants/setting Parents and 6-12 year old children from households in King County (Seattle area), WA and San Diego County, CA, targeted by NIK were recruited. Eligible parent-child dyads (n=698) with two or three 24-hour dietary recalls were included in this secondary analysis. Main Outcome Measures Child diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2010 [HEI-2010], Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH] score, and energy density (for food-only) and energy intake were derived from the dietary recalls using Nutrition Data Systems for Research. Statistical Analyses Performed Multiple linear regression models examined the relationship between parent diet quality and child diet quality, and the relationship between parent energy intake and child energy intake. In both analyses, we controlled for parent characteristics, child characteristics, household education and neighborhood type. Results Parent diet quality measures were significantly related to corresponding child diet quality measures: HEI-2010 (standardized beta [β] = 0.39, p<0.001); DASH score (β = 0.33, p<0.001); energy density (β = 0.32, p<0.001). Parent daily average energy intake (1763 ± 524 kilocalories) also was significantly related (β = 0.30, p<0.001) to child daily average energy intake (1751 ± 431 kilocalories). Conclusion Parent and child intakes were closely related across various metrics of diet quality and for energy intake. Mechanisms of influence are likely to be shared food environments, shared meals, and parent modeling.

Diet Quality and Satisfaction with Life, Family Life, and Food-Related Life across Families: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study with Mother-Father-Adolescent Triads

“…Families from Groups 1 and 3 did not differ in the average number of days in which family members have breakfast and lunch together; however, the AHEI scores of Group 3 family members were higher than for Group 1. Therefore, it seems that frequent family meals are not enough to improve family member diet quality; it is also necessary for parents to provide healthful foods at home [ 9 , 12 , 14 ], to model healthy eating practices [ 8 , 9 ] and to encourage healthful food choices [ 9 ]. Healthier parenting practices may explain adolescents’ higher consumption of fruit and vegetables in Group 3 in comparison to Group 1, which is in agreement with the results reported by Watts et al [ 9 ].…”

“…In particular, adolescent eating behaviors are influenced by several interrelated factors, and family has been reported to be one of the main determinants [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Parents can shape their children’s eating behavior by providing (un)healthful foods at home [ 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], modeling food choices [ 8 ], encouraging healthy eating [ 9 ], and promoting family meals [ 9 , 13 ]. Outcomes related to parental modeling can be both positive and negative, depending on behaviors modeled by the parents and behaviors copied by their children [ 15 ].…”

Predictors of Dietary Energy Density among Preschool Aged Children

“…One exception was maternal intake of fruits, which was inversely associated with children’s DED food . Several studies have identified positive associations between parents’ and children’s fruit and vegetable intakes [ 51 , 52 , 53 ]. The lack of significant results for maternal intake of vegetables, non-core sweet or savory snacks and non-core drinks and children’s DED could be due to differences in how dietary data were collected (three 24-h dietary records for children and food frequency questionnaires for the past 12 months in mothers).…”

Children’s Consumption Patterns and Their Parent’s Perception of a Healthy Diet

“…Increasing children's fruit and vegetable intake and limiting added sugar consumption requires interventions in home and school settings [9]. Parents' dietary consumption [10], modeling behaviors [11], and feeding styles [12] can influence children's diets. Arguably, improving children's consumption is also closely linked to how parents perceive the healthfulness of their child's diet because a parent must first recognize when their child's diet is poor or needs change in order to take actions [13,14]).…”