Dataset Information

Social Inequalities in Young Children's Meal Skipping Behaviors: The Generation R Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Regular meal consumption is considered an important aspect of a healthy diet. While ample evidence shows social inequalities in breakfast skipping among adolescents, little is known about social inequalities in breakfast skipping and skipping of other meals among young school-aged children. Such information is crucial in targeting interventions aimed to promote a healthy diet in children.

Methods

We examined data from 4704 ethnically diverse children participating in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Information on family socioeconomic position (SEP), ethnic background, and meal skipping behaviors was assessed by parent-reported questionnaire when the child was 6 years old. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations of family SEP (educational level, household income, employment status, family composition) and ethnic background with meal skipping behaviors, using high SEP children and native Dutch children as reference groups.

Results

Meal skipping prevalence ranged from 3% (dinner) to 11% (lunch). The prevalence of meal skipping was higher among low SEP children and ethnic minority children. Maternal educational level was independently associated with breakfast skipping ([low maternal educational level] OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.24,3.94). Paternal educational level was independently associated with lunch skipping ([low paternal educational level] OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.06,2.20) and dinner skipping ([mid-high paternal educational level] OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.20,0.76). Household income was independently associated with breakfast skipping ([low income] OR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.40,4.22) and dinner skipping ([low income] OR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.22,4.91). In general, ethnic minority children were more likely to skip breakfast, lunch, and dinner compared with native Dutch children. Adjustment for family SEP attenuated the associations of ethnic minority background with meal skipping behaviors considerably.

Conclusion

Low SEP children and ethnic minority children are at an increased risk of breakfast, lunch, and dinner skipping compared with high SEP children and native Dutch children, respectively. Given these inequalities, interventions aimed to promote regular meal consumption, breakfast consumption in particular, should target children from low socioeconomic groups and ethnic minority children. More qualitative research to investigate the pathways underlying social inequalities in children's meal skipping behaviors is warranted.

SUBMITTER: Wijtzes AI

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4520523 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Social Inequalities in Young Children's Meal Skipping Behaviors: The Generation R Study.

Wijtzes Anne I AI Jansen Wilma W Jaddoe Vincent W V VW Franco Oscar H OH Hofman Albert A van Lenthe Frank J FJ Raat Hein H

PloS one 20150730 7

<h4>Background</h4>Regular meal consumption is considered an important aspect of a healthy diet. While ample evidence shows social inequalities in breakfast skipping among adolescents, little is known about social inequalities in breakfast skipping and skipping of other meals among young school-aged children. Such information is crucial in targeting interventions aimed to promote a healthy diet in children.<h4>Methods</h4>We examined data from 4704 ethnically diverse children participating in th ...[more]

PMID: 26225757

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Project description:BackgroundMeal skipping is associated with diet-related chronic disease risk and is highly prevalent in young adults. Despite this, the correlates of meal skipping in this population group are unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of meal skipping in young adults.MethodsYoung adults aged 18-30 years (n = 578) (24% male, 76% female) used 'FoodNow', a purpose designed real-time smartphone application to record food and beverage consumption over four non-consecutive days. The day following each reporting day, participants were asked about their previous day's eating occasions; if any eating occasions were not reported or if any were skipped. These data were used to categorise participants into specific meal skippers (breakfast, lunch and/or dinner skipper). Participants also completed an online questionnaire, which contained measures of correlates from the social-ecological framework across the individual, social-environmental and physical-environment domains. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between specific meal skipping behaviours and measured correlates.ResultsIndividual domain correlates (education status, smoking status and time scarcity) were associated with varying meal skipping behaviours, while no correlates from the social-environmental or physical-environmental domains of the social-ecological framework were associated with any meal skipping behaviours. Participants with a university education were less likely to be a meal skipper (any meal) (OR = 0.46; 95%CI: 0.22, 0.95; p = 0.035), while those who previously or currently smoked cigarettes were more likely to be breakfast skippers (OR = 1.10; 95%CI: 1.15, 3.86; p = 0.016) compared to those who had never smoked before. Those who are time scarce were more likely to be either breakfast (OR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.00, 1.26; p = 0.036) or lunch skippers (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.23; p = 0.033). No variables were significantly associated with dinner skipping.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that the correlates of meal skipping vary according to the specific meal skipped. University education status needs to be considered when designing interventions aimed at the reduction of meal skipping among young adults, while correlates such as time management and smoking status may offer potential behaviour change targets within these interventions.

Dataset Information

Social Inequalities in Young Children's Meal Skipping Behaviors: The Generation R Study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Social Inequalities in Young Children's Meal Skipping Behaviors: The Generation R Study.

Similar Datasets

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