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Drivers of overweight mothers' food choice behaviors depend on child gender.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:National data suggest a higher prevalence of obesity among boys. One possible cause could be the food choices made by parents on behalf of their children. OBJECTIVES:This study sought to determine whether and how mothers' food choices for their children differ by child gender and to understand the drivers of these differences. DESIGN:Data were analyzed from a randomized controlled trial conducted using a virtual reality-based buffet restaurant. Overweight mothers filled out questionnaires and received an information module. They were then immersed in a virtual buffet restaurant to select a lunch for their 4- to 5-year-old child. RESULTS:Of the 221 overweight mothers recruited, 55% identified their daughters as the child for whom they would be choosing the food. The caloric content of boys' meals was 43 calories higher than girls' (p?=?.015). This difference was due to extra calories from the less healthy food category (p?=?.04). Multivariate analyses identified more predictors of calorie choices for daughters' than sons' meals. Predictors of calories chosen for girls included: having both biological parents overweight (??=?0.26; p?=?.003), mother's weight (??=?0.17; p?=?.05), mother's education (??=?-0.28; p?=?.001), her restriction of her child's food intake (??=?-0.20; p?=?.02), and her beliefs about the importance of genetics in causing obesity (??=?0.19; p?=?.03). Mother's weight was the sole predictor of boys' meal calories (??=?0.20; p?=?.04). CONCLUSIONS:Differences in dietary choices made for young girls and boys may contribute to lifelong gender differences in eating patterns. A better understanding of differences in feeding choices made for girls versus boys could improve the design of childhood obesity prevention interventions.

SUBMITTER: Bouhlal S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4976487 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Drivers of overweight mothers' food choice behaviors depend on child gender.

Bouhlal Sofia S McBride Colleen M CM Ward Dianne S DS Persky Susan S

Appetite 20141006

<h4>Background</h4>National data suggest a higher prevalence of obesity among boys. One possible cause could be the food choices made by parents on behalf of their children.<h4>Objectives</h4>This study sought to determine whether and how mothers' food choices for their children differ by child gender and to understand the drivers of these differences.<h4>Design</h4>Data were analyzed from a randomized controlled trial conducted using a virtual reality-based buffet restaurant. Overweight mothers ...[more]

PMID: 25300916

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Project description:To address the increase in overweight and obesity among mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa, an understanding of the factors that drive their food consumption is needed. We hypothesized food consumption in Malawi is driven by a combination of factors, including season, food accessibility (area of residence, convenience of purchasing food, female autonomy), food affordability (household resources, food expenditures, household food insecurity), food desirability (taste preferences, body size preferences), demographics, and morbidity. Participants in Lilongwe and Kasungu Districts were enrolled across three types of mother-child dyads: either the mother (n = 120), child (n = 80), or both (n = 74) were overweight. Seven-day dietary intake was assessed using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire during the dry and rainy seasons. Drivers associated with intake of calories, macronutrients, and 11 food groups at p<0.1 in univariate models were entered into separate multivariate linear regression models for each dietary intake outcome. Mother-child dyads with an overweight child had a higher percent of calories from carbohydrates and lower percent of calories from fat compared to dyads with a normal weight child (both p<0.01). These mothers also had the highest intake of grains (p<0.01) and their children had the lowest intake of oil/fat (p = 0.01). Household food insecurity, maternal taste preferences, and maternal body size preferences were the most consistent predictors of food group consumption. Household food insecurity was associated with lower intake of grains, fruits, meat and eggs, oil/fat, and snacks. Maternal taste preferences predicted increased consumption of grains, legumes/nuts, vegetables, fish, and oil/fat. Maternal body size preferences for herself and her child were associated with consumption of grains, legumes/nuts, dairy, and sweets. Predictors of food consumption varied by season, across food groups, and for mothers and children. In conclusion, indicators of food affordability and desirability were the most common predictors of food consumption among overweight mother-child dyads in Malawi.

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Drivers of overweight mothers' food choice behaviors depend on child gender.

Publications

Drivers of overweight mothers' food choice behaviors depend on child gender.

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