ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4499-3396
Current Organisation
Deakin University
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-2011
DOI: 10.3109/17477161003728469
Abstract: Abstract Dietary intake and food habits are important contributors to the obesity epidemic. They are highly modifiable components of energy balance and are usually targeted in both obesity prevention and treatment programs. However, measurement of total diet creates challenges and can convey a large burden in terms of cost, technical expertise, impact on respondents and time. It is not surprising therefore that comprehensive reports of dietary intake in children are uncommon and, when reported, have limitations. The aim of this paper is to guide researchers and practitioners in selecting the most appropriate dietary assessment method for situations involving children and adolescents. This paper presents a summary of the issues to consider when choosing a method, a description of some of the more commonly used dietary assessment methods for young people and a series of case-studies to illustrate the range of circumstances faced when measuring dietary intake. We recommend that researchers consider the specific components of dietary intake addressed in their research and practice, and whether diet should be reported comprehensively or as targeted components. Other considerations include age, cognitive ability, weight status, physical activity level, respondent burden, and reliability and validity in the context of program goals and research questions. A checklist for selecting the appropriate dietary methodology is provided. This guide aims to facilitate the reporting of dietary intake and food habits in the context of obesity using valid and reliable measures, thus contributing to the evidence-base for nutrition policies and programs relating to obesity.
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 04-2013
Abstract: To assess the effectiveness of a parent-focused intervention on infants’ obesity-risk behaviors and BMI. This cluster randomized controlled trial recruited 542 parents and their infants (mean age 3.8 months at baseline) from 62 first-time parent groups. Parents were offered six 2-hour dietitian-delivered sessions over 15 months focusing on parental knowledge, skills, and social support around infant feeding, diet, physical activity, and television viewing. Control group parents received 6 newsletters on nonobesity-focused themes all parents received usual care from child health nurses. The primary outcomes of interest were child diet (3 × 24-hour diet recalls), child physical activity (accelerometry), and child TV viewing (parent report). Secondary outcomes included BMI z-scores (measured). Data were collected when children were 4, 9, and 20 months of age. Unadjusted analyses showed that, compared with controls, intervention group children consumed fewer grams of noncore drinks (mean difference = –4.45 95% confidence interval [CI]: –7.92 to –0.99 P = .01) and were less likely to consume any noncore drinks (odds ratio = 0.48 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.95 P = .034) midintervention (mean age 9 months). At intervention conclusion (mean age 19.8 months), intervention group children consumed fewer grams of sweet snacks (mean difference = –3.69 95% CI: –6.41 to –0.96 P = .008) and viewed fewer daily minutes of television (mean difference = –15.97: 95% CI: –25.97 to –5.96 P = .002). There was little statistical evidence of differences in fruit, vegetable, savory snack, or water consumption or in BMI z-scores or physical activity. This intervention resulted in reductions in sweet snack consumption and television viewing in 20-month-old children.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-08-2015
DOI: 10.3390/NU7085310
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 19-01-2021
Abstract: ood fussiness is common in toddlerhood. Fussiness is associated with nonresponsive parent feeding practices, such as persuasive and instrumental feeding. Such feeding practices may reinforce fussy eating behaviors and are associated with poorer dietary intake and suboptimal growth trajectories. Parent feeding practices are known to cluster however, no previous research has examined how feeding practices cluster in parents of fussy eaters. his study explored how feeding practices and factors known to influence these clustered among parents who perceived their toddler to be a fussy eater. ata were collected from parent discussions of fussy eating on an online parenting forum on the social media site, Reddit (80,366 posts). Latent Dirichlet Allocation was used to identify discussions of fussy eating. Relevant posts (1,542) made by users who identified as a parent of a fussy eater (n=630) underwent qualitative coding and thematic analysis. ive clusters of parents were identified, ranging in size from 53 to 189 users. These were primarily characterized by parents’ degree of concern and feeding practices: 1) High Concern, Nonresponsive 2) Concerned, Nonresponsive 3) Low Concern, Responsive 4) Low Concern, Mixed Strategies 5) Low Concern, Indulgent. Parents who used responsive practices tended to be less concerned for fussy eating, have greater trust in their child’s ability to self-regulate hunger, have longer-term feeding goals, and exhibit a greater ability for personal self-regulation. actors related to parent feeding practices may cluster among parents who perceive their toddler to be a fussy eater. Future research should examine these constructs to identify how they may relate to each other and to parents’ feeding practices in order to learn how they could be leveraged in parent feeding interventions.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.AMEPRE.2007.02.039
Abstract: Maternal education is consistently found to be inversely related to children's television viewing and is associated with aspects of the family television environment. This study investigates whether family television environment mediates the relationship between maternal education and children's television viewing. Parents of 1484 children reported maternal education, time their child spends watching television, and 21 aspects of the family television environment (potential mediators) during 2002 and 2003. Separate regression analyses were conducted in 2006 for each potential mediator that met two initial conditions for mediation (associated with both maternal education and children's television viewing (p<0.10)), to assess whether inclusion reduced the association between maternal education and children's television viewing. Multivariable regression assessed the combined impact of all mediators. Twelve of 21 potential mediators met the initial conditions for mediation. Inclusion of each resulted in decreased beta values (3.2% to 15.2%) for the association between maternal education and television viewing. Number and placement of televisions in the home appeared to have the greatest mediating effect, followed by frequency of eating dinner in front of the television with the child and rules about television viewing during mealtimes. Together, the 12 mediators accounted for more than one-third of the association between maternal education and children's television viewing time. This study suggests the strong inverse relationship between maternal education and children's television viewing is partly mediated by aspects of the family television environment.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 22-03-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2013.07.006
Abstract: Evidence suggests that mothers' nutrition knowledge and home food availability (HFA) are directly and independently associated with children's food intakes. In this study we test the hypothesis that HFA mediates the association between maternal nutrition knowledge and child diet. In this cross-sectional study of Australian women living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Melbourne, Australia, mothers with dependent children (aged 5-12 years) provided data on their child's diet, HFA, nutrition knowledge and a range of sociodemographic characteristics. To test our hypothesis we assessed associations between nutrition knowledge and HFA, and between HFA and child food intake (adjusting for nutrition knowledge and child age). In all instances significant associations were found. HFA was found to mediate relationships between mother's nutrition knowledge and children's intake of fruit, vegetables, salty foods and soft drink. Our analyses showed that HFA was a mediator of the associations between maternal nutrition knowledge and child's diet in this population. This supports a focus on nutrition education that expands mothers' understanding of what foods to buy, prepare and serve. Further exploration of these associations will provide a stronger evidence base upon which to inform 'best bets' for parent-focussed nutrition promotion seeking to promote children's healthy eating.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 28-10-0001
DOI: 10.2196/MHEALTH.4869
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 28-04-2014
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114514000749
Abstract: Findings from research that has assessed the influence of dietary factors on child obesity have been equivocal. In the present study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that a positive change in diet quality is associated with favourable changes in BMI z -scores (zBMI) in schoolchildren from low socio-economic backgrounds and to examine whether this effect is modified by BMI category at baseline. The present study utilised data from a subs le ( n 216) of the Resilience for Eating and Activity Despite Inequality study, a longitudinal cohort study with data collected in 2007–8 (T1) and 2010–11 (T2) in socio-economically disadvantaged women and children (5–12 years at T1). Dietary data were collected using a FFQ and diet quality index (DQI) scores derived at both time points. The objective measures of weight, height and physical activity (accelerometers) were included. The other variables were reported in the questionnaires. We examined the association between change in DQI and change in zBMI, using linear regression analyses adjusted for physical activity, screen sedentary behaviour and maternal education level both in the whole s le and in the s le stratified by overweight status at baseline. After accounting for potential covariates, change in diet quality was found to be inversely associated with change in zBMI only in children who were overweight at baseline ( P = 0·035), thus supporting the hypothesis that improvement in diet quality is associated with a concurrent improvement in zBMI among already overweight children, but not among those with a normal BMI status. The identification of modifiable behaviours such as diet quality that affect zBMI longitudinally is valuable to inform future weight gain prevention interventions in vulnerable groups.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2012
Abstract: The complementary feeding period is an important stage of child development. The study aim was to develop an index reflecting the degree of adherence to complementary feeding guidelines, evaluate its convergent validity, and explore associations with socio-demographic factors and dietary pattern scores in childhood. Data were analyzed from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n = 6065) using parent-completed dietary questionnaires at 6 mo of age, socio-demographic information, and dietary patterns derived by principal component analysis at age 3 y. The Complementary Feeding Utility Index (CFUI) consists of 14 components: breastfeeding duration, feeding to appetite, timing of introduction to solids, exposure to iron-rich cereals, fruit and vegetable intake, exposure to high-fat/-salt/-sugar foods including sugary drinks, food texture, and meal/snack frequency. Regression analyses were undertaken to investigate associations between index scores, socio-demographic factors, food and nutrient intakes, and dietary pattern scores at age 3 y. Milk and food intake at 6 mo and nutrient intake at 8 mo of age varied across quintiles of index score in largely the expected directions. Associations were found among index score, maternal age, education, social class, maternal smoking history, and prepregnancy BMI. After adjustment for socio-demographic factors, the index score was associated with "processed" [β = -0.234 (95% CI = -0.260, -0.209)] and "healthy" [β = 0.185 (95% CI = 0.155, 0.215)] dietary pattern scores at age 3 y. The CFUI is able to discriminate across food intake, nutrient intake, and socio-demographic factors and is associated with later dietary patterns.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-2011
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/MCN.13178
Abstract: Early intervention is critical for addressing the challenge of childhood obesity. Yet many preventive interventions do not target infants most at risk of future overweight or obesity. This systematic review examines interventions delivered before 2 years that aim to ameliorate excess weight gain among infants at high risk of overweight or obesity, due to sociodemographic characteristics, parental weight or health status, infant feeding or health behaviours. We searched six databases for interventions: (a) delivered before age two, (b) specifically aimed at infants at high risk of childhood obesity and (c) that reported outcomes by weight status beyond 28 days. The search identified over 27,000 titles, and 49 papers from 38 studies met inclusion criteria: 10 antenatal interventions, 16 postnatal and 12 conducted both before and after birth. Nearly all targeted infant and/or maternal nutrition. Studies varied widely in design, obesity risk factors, outcomes and quality. Overall, nine interventions of varying quality reported some evidence of significantly improved child weight trajectory, although effects tended to diminish over time. Interventions that improved weight outcomes tended to engage parents for a longer period, and most offered health professional input and support. Two studies of limited quality reported significantly worse weight outcomes in the intervention group.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-2010
DOI: 10.1038/OBY.2009.429
Abstract: The small number and recency of the early childhood obesity-prevention literature identified in a previous review of interventions to prevent obesity, promote healthy eating, physical activity, and/or reduce sedentary behaviors in 0-5 year olds suggests this is a new and developing research area. The current review was conducted to provide an update of the rapidly emerging evidence in this area and to assess the quality of studies reported. Ten electronic databases were searched to identify literature published from January 1995 to August 2008. interventions reporting child anthropometric, diet, physical activity, or sedentary behavior outcomes and focusing on children aged 0-5 years of age. focusing on breastfeeding, eating disorders, obesity treatment, malnutrition, or school-based interventions. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. Twenty-three studies met all criteria. Most were conducted in preschool/childcare (n = 9) or home settings (n = 8). Approximately half targeted socioeconomically disadvantaged children (n = 12) and three quarters were published from 2003 onward (n = 17). The interventions varied widely although most were multifaceted in their approach. While study design and quality varied most studies reported their interventions were feasible and acceptable, although impact on behaviors that contribute to obesity were not achieved by all. Early childhood obesity-prevention interventions represent a rapidly growing research area. Current evidence suggests that behaviors that contribute to obesity can be positively impacted in a range of settings and provides important insights into the most effective strategies for promoting healthy weight from early childhood.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 11-2012
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114511005757
Abstract: The objectives of the present study were to identify dietary patterns independently in first-time mothers and fathers, and to examine whether these patterns were correlated within families. Dietary intakes were collected at baseline in the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial Program using a validated FFQ in 454 pairs of first-time mothers and fathers. Education level was reported in associated questionnaires. Principal components analyses included frequencies of fifty-five food groups and were performed independently in mothers and fathers. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to assess associations between dietary pattern scores. A total of four dietary patterns were identified in mothers and fathers. Of these, three dietary patterns had similar characteristics between these two populations, namely ‘Fruits and vegetables’, ‘High-energy snack and processed foods’, ‘High-fat foods’ in mothers and ‘Fruits’, ‘High-energy snack and processed foods’, ‘High-fat foods’ in fathers. The following two additional patterns were identified: ‘Cereals and sweet foods’ in mothers and ‘Potatoes and vegetables’ in fathers. Patterns incorporating healthier food items were found to be positively associated with parent education. An inverse association with education was found for the ‘High-fat foods’ and ‘High-energy snack and processed foods’ dietary patterns. Qualitatively similar patterns between corresponding mothers and fathers were the most strongly correlated (ρ = 0·34–0·45, P 0·001). There were some differences in dietary patterns between mothers and fathers, suggesting that it is worth deriving patterns separately when considering couples, and more generally between men and women. Exploring how these various patterns correlate within households provides important insights to guide the development and implementation of family-based interventions.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-09-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2017
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 09-2010
Abstract: We aimed to investigate whether the proportion of breastfeeding mothers in first-time parent groups influenced the likelihood of ceasing breastfeeding and whether this was independent of socioeconomic position. Data were from 501 mothers (from 62 first-time parent groups initiated ∼6 weeks after birth) who provided data at the baseline and mid-intervention assessments of the Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity, and Nutrition Trial. Parent groups were ided into those in which ≤25% of mothers had ceased breastfeeding by 6 weeks (low-cessation groups) and those in which & % had ceased by 6 weeks (high-cessation groups). With the exclusion of mothers who had already ceased breastfeeding by 6 weeks, the proportion of mothers who ceased breastfeeding between the time of parent group initiation (6 weeks) and 6 months was higher in high-cessation groups than in low-cessation groups (37.4% vs 21.7% P = .001). After adjustment for maternal age, BMI, employment, and education and area-level socioeconomic position, membership in a group in which a large proportion of mothers had ceased breastfeeding by 6 weeks was strongly related to cessation of breastfeeding before 6 months (odds ratio: 2.1 [95% confidence interval: 1.3–3.3]). Attendance at parent groups where peers are breastfeeding infants of a similar age may have an important influence on the continuation of breastfeeding to 6 months. First-time parent groups or other similar groups may be an important setting in which to promote the continuation of breastfeeding.
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/PY13080
Abstract: Almost half of Australian women of child-bearing age are overweight or obese, with a rate of 30–50% reported in early pregnancy. Maternal adiposity is a costly challenge for Australian obstetric care, with associated serious maternal and neonatal complications. Excess gestational weight gain is an important predictor of offspring adiposity into adulthood and higher maternal weight later in life. Current public health and perinatal care approaches in Australia do not adequately address excess perinatal maternal weight or gestational weight gain. This paper argues that the failure of primary health-care providers to offer systematic advice and support regarding women’s weight and related lifestyle behaviours in child-bearing years is an outstanding ‘missed opportunity’ for prevention of inter-generational overweight and obesity. Barriers to action could be addressed through greater attention to: clinical guidelines for maternal weight management for the perinatal period, training and support of maternal health-care providers to develop skills and confidence in raising weight issues with women, a variety of weight management programs provided by state maternal health services, and clear referral pathways to them. Attention is also required to service systems that clearly define roles in maternal weight management and ensure consistency and continuity of support across the perinatal period.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-04-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2015.02.038
Abstract: Food preferences are important determinants of children's food intakes. Parental feeding behaviours have a significant influence on the development of children's food preferences. The aim of the present study was to describe the ways in which parents attempt to influence their children's food preferences. Parents of 2-5 year old children participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews, which were transcribed and content analysed using a thematic coding manual. The parents described the ways in which they tried to influence the foods their child liked and disliked. Participants (N = 57) were separated into three separate groups based on an a priori study measuring food preferences and food neophobia: those who either had children with healthy food preferences (i.e. closely aligned with dietary guidelines) (N = 20), or unhealthy food preferences (i.e. not closely aligned with dietary guidelines) (N = 18), or high levels of food neophobia (N = 19). The parents used many, erse behaviours to influence their child's food preferences. Some of these behaviours were likely to be effective in promoting healthy food preferences in children (e.g. parental modelling, food exposure), whilst others were likely to be ineffective (e.g. forcing consumption, restricting food access). Parents of children with healthy food preferences appeared to use more of the feeding behaviours predicted to promote healthy preferences than parents in the other two groups. Parents of children with unhealthy food preferences and those of food neophobic children appeared to rely more on ineffective behaviours. Parents used a mixture of effective and ineffective behaviours, with parents of children with unhealthy food preferences or high food neophobia using fewer behaviours known to be effective. Interventions aimed at influencing parental feeding behaviours should include those behaviours targeted at children's food preferences.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.YPMED.2013.10.021
Abstract: To assess the effectiveness of the Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program according to maternal education and age. A cluster-randomised controlled trial involving 542 mother/infant pairs from 62 existing first-time parent groups was conducted in 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. The intervention involved 6 × 2-hour dietitian-delivered sessions, DVD and written resources from infant age 4-15 months. Outcomes included infant diet (3 × 24 h diet recalls), physical activity (accelerometry), television viewing and body mass index. We tested for moderation by maternal education (with/without a University degree) and age (< 32 and ≥ 32 years). The trial was registered with the ISRCTN Register (identifier 81847050). Interaction effects with the treatment arm were observed for maternal education and age. The intervention effects on vegetable (positive effect) and sweet snack consumption (negative effect) were greater in children with higher educated mothers while intervention effects on water consumption (positive effect) were greater in infants with lower educated mothers. The intervention was also more effective in increasing both vegetable and water consumption in infants with mothers aged < 32 years. Child obesity prevention interventions may be differentially effective according to maternal education and age. Evidence of differential effects is important for informing more sensitively targeted/tailored approaches.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAND.2014.04.028
Abstract: High sodium intake during infancy and early childhood can change salt preference and blood pressure trajectories across life, representing a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Describing young children's sodium intake is important for informing effective targets for sodium reduction. This study aimed to describe food sources and demographic and behavioral correlates of sodium intake in 295 young Australian children using three unscheduled 24-hour recalls (when children were 9 and then 18 months of age) with mothers participating within an existing randomized controlled trial, the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program. Differences in in idual-level and family-level demographic and behavioral variables were assessed across tertiles of sodium density (mg/1,000 kcal). Descriptive statistics were used to describe food-group contributions to total energy and sodium intakes at both ages. Mean sodium intake was 486 mg (standard deviation=232 mg) at 9 months and had more than doubled to 1,069 mg (standard deviation=331 mg) at 18 months of age. Fifty-four percent of children at 18 months exceeded the Recommended Daily Upper Level for sodium intake, with bread, cheese, breakfast cereal, soup, and mixed dishes all important sources of sodium at both ages. Yeast extracts, processed meats, and bread products became important additional sources at 18 months. A greater proportion of children in the highest sodium-density tertile had ceased breastfeeding and had commenced solids at an earlier age. The key food sources of sodium for children younger than 2 years are those that contribute to the whole population's high salt burden and highlight the essential role governments and food industry must play to reduce salt in commonly consumed foods.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2011
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-05-2015
Publisher: Springer New York
Date: 2016
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 21-02-2020
Abstract: n western countries, children’s diets are often low in fruits and vegetables and high in discretionary foods. Diet in early life tends to track through childhood and youth and even into adulthood. Interventions should, therefore, be delivered in periods when habitual traits are established, as in toddlerhood when children adapt to their family’s diet. n this study, we assessed the effect of the Food4toddlers eHealth intervention, which aimed to enhance toddlers’ diets by shaping their food and eating environment. he Food4toddlers randomized controlled trial was conducted in Norway in 2017-2018. Parent-child dyads were recruited through social media. In total, 298 parents completed an online questionnaire at baseline (mean child age 10.9 months, SD 1.2). Postintervention questionnaires were completed immediately after the intervention (ie, follow-up 1 mean child age 17.8 months, SD 1.3) and 6 months after the intervention (ie, follow-up 2 mean child age 24.2 months, SD 1.9). The intervention was guided by social cognitive theory, which targets the linked relationship between the person, the behavior, and the environment. The intervention group (148/298, 49.7%) got access to the Food4toddlers website for 6 months from baseline. The website included information on diet and on how to create a healthy food and eating environment as well as activities, recipes, and collaboration opportunities. To assess intervention effects on child diet from baseline to follow-up 1 and from baseline to follow-up 2, we used generalized estimating equations and a time × group interaction term. Between-group differences in changes over time for frequency and variety of fruits and vegetables and frequency of discretionary foods were assessed. t follow-up 1, a significant time × group interaction was observed for the frequency of vegetable intake ( i P /i =.02). The difference between groups in the change from baseline to follow-up 1 was 0.46 vegetable items per day (95% CI 0.06-0.86) in favor of the intervention group. No other significant between-group differences in dietary changes from baseline to follow-up 1 or follow-up 2 were observed. However, there is a clear time trend showing that the intake of discretionary foods increases by time from less than 1 item per week at baseline to more than 4 items per week at 2 years of age ( i P /i & .001), regardless of group. positive intervention effect was observed for the frequency of vegetable intake at follow-up 1 but not at follow-up 2. No other between-group effects on diet were observed. eHealth interventions of longer duration, including reminders after the main content of the intervention has been delivered, may be needed to obtain long-terms effects, along with tailoring in a digital or a personal form. nternational Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 92980420 0.1186/ISRCTN92980420
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 07-09-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-06-2020
DOI: 10.1111/IJPO.12684
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 23-01-2019
DOI: 10.2196/11454
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-02-2013
Abstract: Maternal feeding practices have been proposed to play an important role in early child weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors. However, to date longitudinal investigations in young children exploring these relationships have been lacking. The aim of the present study was to explore prospective relationships between maternal feeding practices, child weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors in 2-year-old children. The competing hypothesis that child eating behaviors predict changes in maternal feeding practices was also examined. A s le of 323 mother (mean age = 35 years, ± 0.37) and child dyads (mean age = 2.03 years, ± 0.37 at recruitment) were participants. Mothers completed a questionnaire assessing parental feeding practices and child eating behaviors at baseline and again one year later. Child BMI (predominantly objectively measured) was obtained at both time points. Increases in child BMI z -scores over the follow-up period were predicted by maternal instrumental feeding practices. Furthermore, restriction, emotional feeding, encouragement to eat, weight-based restriction and fat restriction were associated prospectively with the development of obesogenic eating behaviors in children including emotional eating, tendency to overeat and food approach behaviors (such as enjoyment of food and good appetite). Maternal monitoring, however, predicted decreases in food approach eating behaviors. Partial support was also observed for child eating behaviors predicting maternal feeding practices. Maternal feeding practices play an important role in the development of weight gain and obesogenic eating behaviors in young children and are potential targets for effective prevention interventions aiming to decrease child obesity.
Publisher: IEEE
Date: 08-2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2007
DOI: 10.1080/17477160601148554
Abstract: To examine associations between weight status and multiple indicators of family circumstance in Australian elementary school children. Data were combined from the 2001 Children's Leisure Activities Study (CLAS Study) and 2002/3 Health, Eating and Play Study (HEAP Study), involving 2520 children in Grades Prep (mean age 6 years) and 5-6 (mean age 11 years) in Melbourne, Australia. Children's body mass index (BMI) was calculated from measured height and weight. Weight status (non-overweight or overweight) was determined according to International Obesity Taskforce cut-off points and BMI was transformed to z-scores based on the 2000 US growth chart data. Parents reported family circumstance (number of parents in the home, marital status, presence of siblings, parental education, parental employment status, parental work hours [HEAP Study only]) and parental BMI. Regression analyses were conducted for the s le overall and separately for young girls, young boys, older girls and older boys. Children in single-parent homes, those without siblings, and those with less educated mothers and fathers tended to have higher z-BMIs (p=0.002, p=0.003, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) and were more likely to be overweight (p=0.003, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.02, respectively). Associations were stronger for older children. Parental employment and work hours were not consistently associated with child weight status. The multivariable models did not demonstrate a cumulative explanatory effect (R(2)=0.02), except when maternal BMI was included (R(2)=0.07). In idual measures of family circumstance were differentially associated with child weight status and appeared to be largely independent of other measures of family circumstance. Childhood overweight interventions may need to be tailored based on the age, gender, maternal BMI and family circumstances of the target group.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-09-2012
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 13-12-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2006
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 30-11-2020
Abstract: chool food outlets represent a key setting for public health nutrition intervention. The recent proliferation of web-based food ordering systems provides a unique opportunity to support healthy purchasing from schools. Embedding evidence-based choice architecture strategies within these routinely used systems provides the opportunity to impact the purchasing decisions of many users simultaneously and warrants investigation. his study aims to assess the effectiveness of a multistrategy behavioral intervention implemented via a web-based school canteen lunch ordering system in reducing the energy, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium content of primary students’ web-based lunch orders. he study used a parallel-group, cohort, cluster randomized controlled trial design with 2207 students from 17 Australian primary schools. Schools with a web-based canteen lunch ordering system were randomly assigned to receive either a multistrategy behavioral intervention that included choice architecture strategies embedded in the web-based system (n=9 schools) or the standard web-based ordering system only (n=8 control schools). Automatically collected student purchasing data at baseline (term 2, 2018) and 12 months later (term 2, 2019) were used to assess trial outcomes. Primary trial outcomes included the mean energy (kJ), saturated fat (g), sugar (g), and sodium (mg) content of student lunch orders. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of all web-based lunch order items classified as i everyday /i , i occasional /i , and i caution /i (based on the New South Wales Healthy School Canteen Strategy) and canteen revenue. rom baseline to follow-up, the intervention lunch orders had significantly lower energy content (−69.4 kJ, 95% CI −119.6 to −19.1 i P /i =.01) and saturated fat content (−0.6 g, 95% CI −0.9 to −0.4 i P /i & .001) than the control lunch orders, but they did not have significantly lower sugar or sodium content. There was also a small significant between-group difference in the percentage of energy from saturated fat (−0.9%, 95% CI −1.4% to −0.5% i P /i & .001) but not in the percentage of energy from sugar (+1.1%, 95% CI 0.2% to 1.9% i P /i =.02). Relative to control schools, intervention schools had significantly greater odds of having i everyday /i items purchased (odds ratio [OR] 1.7, 95% CI 1.5-2.0 i P /i & .001), corresponding to a 9.8% increase in i everyday /i items, and lower odds of having i occasional /i items purchased (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.8 i P /i & .001), corresponding to a 7.7% decrease in i occasional /i items) however, there was no change in the odds of having i caution /i (least healthy) items purchased (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-1.0 i P /i =.05). Furthermore, there was no change in schools’ revenue between groups. iven the evidence of small statistically significant improvements in the energy and saturated fat content, acceptability, and wide reach, this intervention has the potential to influence dietary choices at a population level, and further research is warranted to determine its impact when implemented at scale. ustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12618000855224 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375075. R2-10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030538
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-03-2008
Abstract: Multiple factors combine to support a compelling case for interventions that target the development of obesity-promoting behaviours (poor diet, low physical activity and high sedentary behaviour) from their inception. These factors include the rapidly increasing prevalence of fatness throughout childhood, the instigation of obesity-promoting behaviours in infancy, and the tracking of these behaviours from childhood through to adolescence and adulthood. The Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (INFANT) aims to determine the effectiveness of an early childhood obesity prevention intervention delivered to first-time parents. The intervention, conducted with parents over the infant's first 18 months of life, will use existing social networks (first-time parent's groups) and an anticipatory guidance framework focusing on parenting skills which support the development of positive diet and physical activity behaviours, and reduced sedentary behaviours in infancy. This cluster-randomised controlled trial, with first-time parent groups as the unit of randomisation, will be conducted with a s le of 600 first-time parents and their newborn children who attend the first-time parents' group at Maternal and Child Health Centres. Using a two-stage s ling process, local government areas in Victoria, Australia will be randomly selected at the first stage. At the second stage, a proportional s le of first-time parent groups within selected local government areas will be randomly selected and invited to participate. Informed consent will be obtained and groups will then be randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. The early years hold promise as a time in which obesity prevention may be most effective. To our knowledge this will be the first randomised trial internationally to demonstrate whether an early health promotion program delivered to first-time parents in their existing social groups promotes healthy eating, physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviours. If proven to be effective, INFANT may protect children from the development of obesity and its associated social and economic costs. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN81847050
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 29-09-2015
DOI: 10.2196/IJMR.4323
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.JNEUMETH.2016.09.008
Abstract: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to perturb both cortical neural activity and hemodynamics during (online) and after the stimulation, however mechanisms of these tDCS-induced online and after-effects are not known. Here, online resting-state spontaneous brain activation may be relevant to monitor tDCS neuromodulatory effects that can be measured using electroencephalography (EEG) in conjunction with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). We present a Kalman Filter based online parameter estimation of an autoregressive (ARX) model to track the transient coupling relation between the changes in EEG power spectrum and NIRS signals during anodal tDCS (2mA, 10min) using a 4×1 ring high-definition montage. Our online ARX parameter estimation technique using the cross-correlation between log (base-10) transformed EEG band-power (0.5-11.25Hz) and NIRS oxy-hemoglobin signal in the low frequency (≤0.1Hz) range was shown in 5 healthy subjects to be sensitive to detect transient EEG-NIRS coupling changes in resting-state spontaneous brain activation during anodal tDCS. Conventional sliding window cross-correlation calculations suffer a fundamental problem in computing the phase relationship as the signal in the window is considered time-invariant and the choice of the window length and step size are subjective. Here, Kalman Filter based method allowed online ARX parameter estimation using time-varying signals that could capture transients in the coupling relationship between EEG and NIRS signals. Our new online ARX model based tracking method allows continuous assessment of the transient coupling between the electrophysiological (EEG) and the hemodynamic (NIRS) signals representing resting-state spontaneous brain activation during anodal tDCS.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 18-08-2015
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515002755
Abstract: Children’s learning about food is considerable during their formative years, with parental influence being pivotal. Research has focused predominantly on maternal influences, with little known about the relationships between fathers’ and children’s diets. Greater understanding of this relationship is necessary for the design of appropriate interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between the diets of fathers and their children and the moderating effects of fathers’ BMI, education and age on these associations. The diets of fathers and their first-born children ( n 317) in the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program were assessed using an FFQ and 3×24-h recalls, respectively. The InFANT Program is a cluster-randomised controlled trial in the setting of first-time parents groups in Victoria, Australia. Associations between father and child fruit, vegetable, non-core food and non-core drink intakes were assessed using linear regression. The extent to which these associations were mediated by maternal intake was tested. Moderation of associations by paternal BMI, education and age was assessed. Positive associations were found between fathers’ and children’s intake of fruit, sweet snacks and take-away foods. Paternal BMI, education and age moderated the relationships found for the intakes of fruit (BMI), vegetables (age), savoury snacks (BMI and education) and take-away foods (BMI and education). Our findings suggest that associations exist at a young age and are moderated by paternal BMI, education and age. This study highlights the importance of fathers in modelling healthy diets for their children.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2013.03.009
Abstract: The relationships between maternal body image and eating concerns and increases in body mass index (BMI) in early childhood are poorly understood. Our aim was to test a model in which mothers' BMI, body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint and concerns about their child's weight were related to restrictive feeding practices and child BMIz change. Mothers of 2-year-old children (n=202, aged between 1.5 and 2.5years) reported concerns regarding their own and their child's weight, their dietary restraint, and restrictive feeding practices. Height and weight were measured for children and reported by mothers at baseline and 1-year later. Thirty five percent of mothers and 29% of children were in overweight or obese categories at baseline. Using path analysis, after adding an additional pathway to the proposed model the final model provided a good fit to the data (χ(2) (8)=5.593, p=.693, CFI=1.000, RMSEA=.000), with maternal dietary restraint directly predicting change in child BMIz over the year. Concern about child's weight and, to a lesser extent, maternal dietary restraint mediated the relationship between maternal body dissatisfaction and the use of restrictive feeding practices. However, the pathway from restrictive feeding practices to change in child BMIz was not significant. Mothers' BMI and body dissatisfaction may contribute indirectly to weight change in their young children. Interventions targeting maternal body dissatisfaction and informing about effective feeding strategies may help prevent increases in child BMIz.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 25-06-2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-02-2019
DOI: 10.1111/PPE.12541
Abstract: A range of postnatal and maternal factors influences childhood obesity, but their relative importance remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the relative impact of postnatal rapid growth and maternal factors on early childhood growth trajectories. Secondary longitudinal analysis of pooled data from the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program and the InFANT Extend Program (n = 977) was performed. Children's height and weight were collected at birth, 3, 9, 18, and 36/42 months. Body mass index-for-age and height-for-age z-scores (BAZ, HAZ) were computed using WHO growth standards. Mixed-effect polynomial regression models were fitted to examine BAZ and HAZ trajectories and their determinants. Rapid growth from birth to 3 months, maternal country of birth, and pre-pregnancy BMI were each independently associated with BAZ from 3 to 42 months. Children with rapid growth, those whose mothers were Australian-born, and those whose mothers were overweight/obese pre-pregnancy had higher BAZ from 3 to 42 months. Children with rapid growth had an increase in HAZ growth, but their average HAZ from 3 to 42 months was smaller than children without rapid growth. Children of tall mothers (above average height) had higher HAZ than those of short mothers (below average height). Average HAZ from 3 to 42 months did not differ by maternal country of birth. Children who experienced rapid growth from birth to 3 months, whose mothers were Australian-born or whose mothers were overweight/obese pre-pregnancy demonstrated less favourable growth trajectories across early childhood, potentially predispose them for development of future obesity.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2014.02.001
Abstract: Despite recommended dietary guidelines, recent population surveys have recorded low fruit and vegetable and high non-core food consumption by Australian children. Young children rely on parents or primary carers to provide their diets therefore pre-school age is an optimal time to promote and encourage healthy child eating behaviours. Identified contributing factors to a child's eating behaviour and diet in the home environment include parenting style, parent feeding practices and attitudes, parent nutrition knowledge, and home food availability. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore perceptions, perceived influences, facilitators and barriers when providing healthy foods for young children via focus groups with parents of children with 'healthy' versus 'unhealthy' diets. Thematic analysis identified similarities across both groups including an intention to provide healthy food for their children with most parents involving their child in some level of meal preparation and most families dining together for the evening meal. Main points of difference included parents in the 'healthy' group having more partner support in relation to child diet, a willingness to say 'no' without wavering, and considering their child's daily physical activity when deciding appropriate food options. A majority of parents in the 'unhealthy' group attempted to disguise vegetables and healthy foods for their child and reported experiencing increased levels of stress regarding their child's fussy eating.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-11-2014
Abstract: Parents have a major influence on young children’s diets, food choices and habit formation. However, research concerning parental influence on children’s diets is limited. Qualitative research informs quantitative research with a narrative of ‘what works’ and is a valuable tool to inform intervention design and practice. This article presents a systematic review of qualitative research with parents of preschool children and their influence on their child’s diet. Nine studies were identified. Findings highlight the need to promote culturally tailored programmes to combat specific cultural differences such as attitudes perceptions and concerns address common barriers to providing healthy foods and challenges faced by lower income families the use of food to shape a child’s behaviour that children will grow out of excess weight common misconceptions such as a heavier child is healthier and depriving a child’s food request could result in starvation. Research on parental understanding of healthy diets and feeding practices is lacking. Further insights into how to positively influence children’s diets will come from research examining parent feeding practices and nutrition knowledge.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.CCT.2012.10.008
Abstract: The Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program, is a community-based, cluster-randomised controlled trial of an obesity prevention intervention delivered to first-time parents of infants from age 4-20 months. Conducted from 2008 to 2010, the program had high uptake and retention and showed positive impacts on some dietary outcomes and television viewing. Funding was secured for a follow-up study of participants two and 3.5 years post intervention (at child ages ~3.5 and 5 years). The follow-up study aims to assess intervention effects, mediators and moderators of effects, and program cost-effectiveness over the longer term. The 492 families still enrolled in the Melbourne InFANT Program at intervention conclusion will be recontacted and renewed consent sought to participate in this follow-up study. No further intervention will occur. Home visit data collections will occur approximately two and 3.5 years post intervention. Main outcomes to be assessed include child body mass index, waist circumference, diet (3 × 24-hour recalls food frequency questionnaire), physical activity (8 days ActiGraph accelerometer data parent reported active play) and sedentary time (8days ActiGraph accelerometer and ActivPAL inclinometer data parent reported screen time). Follow-up of participants of the Melbourne InFANT Program at two and 3.5 years post intervention will allow assessment of longer term intervention effects, investigation of potential mediators and moderators of such effects, and economic evaluation of the longer term outcomes. This information will be valuable to researchers and policy makers in progressing the field of early childhood obesity prevention.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-11-2014
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 03-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-2014
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 28-09-2011
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114510003673
Abstract: The average reported dietary Na intake of children in Australia is high: 2694 mg/d (9–13 years). No data exist describing food sources of Na in Australian children's diets and potential impact of Na reduction targets for processed foods. The aim of the present study was to determine sources of dietary Na in a nationally representative s le of Australian children aged 2–16 years and to assess the impact of application of the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) Na reduction targets on Na intake. Na intake and use of discretionary salt (note: conversion of salt to Na, 1 g of NaCl (salt) = 390 mg Na) were assessed from 24-h dietary recall in 4487 children participating in the Australian 2007 Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Greatest contributors to Na intake across all ages were cereals and cereal-based products/dishes (43 %), including bread (13 %) and breakfast cereals (4 %). Other moderate sources were meat, poultry products (16 %), including processed meats (8 %) and sausages (3 %) milk products/dishes (11 %) and savoury sauces and condiments (7 %). Between 37 and 42 % reported that the person who prepares their meal adds salt when cooking and between 11 and 39 % added salt at the table. Those over the age of 9 years were more likely to report adding salt at the table (χ 2 199·5, df 6, P 0·001). Attainment of the UK FSA Na reduction targets, within the present food supply, would result in a 20 % reduction in daily Na intake in children aged 2–16 years. Incremental reductions of this magnitude over a period of years could significantly reduce the Na intake of this group and further reductions could be achieved by reducing discretionary salt use.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 06-10-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PCBI.1009386
Abstract: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to evoke hemodynamics response however, the mechanisms have not been investigated systematically using systems biology approaches. Our study presents a grey-box linear model that was developed from a physiologically detailed multi-compartmental neurovascular unit model consisting of the vascular smooth muscle, perivascular space, synaptic space, and astrocyte glial cell. Then, model linearization was performed on the physiologically detailed nonlinear model to find appropriate complexity (Akaike information criterion) to fit functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) based measure of blood volume changes, called cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), to high-definition (HD) tDCS. The grey-box linear model was applied on the fNIRS-based CVR during the first 150 seconds of anodal HD-tDCS in eleven healthy humans. The grey-box linear models for each of the four nested pathways starting from tDCS scalp current density that perturbed synaptic potassium released from active neurons for Pathway 1, astrocytic transmembrane current for Pathway 2, perivascular potassium concentration for Pathway 3, and voltage-gated ion channel current on the smooth muscle cell for Pathway 4 were fitted to the total hemoglobin concentration (tHb) changes from optodes in the vicinity of 4x1 HD-tDCS electrodes as well as on the contralateral sensorimotor cortex. We found that the tDCS perturbation Pathway 3 presented the least mean square error (MSE, median .5%) and the lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC, median -1.726) from the in idual grey-box linear model fitting at the targeted-region. Then, minimal realization transfer function with reduced-order approximations of the grey-box model pathways was fitted to the ensemble average tHb time series. Again, Pathway 3 with nine poles and two zeros (all free parameters), provided the best Goodness of Fit of 0.0078 for Chi-Square difference test of nested pathways. Therefore, our study provided a systems biology approach to investigate the initial transient hemodynamic response to tDCS based on fNIRS tHb data. Future studies need to investigate the steady-state responses, including steady-state oscillations found to be driven by calcium dynamics, where transcranial alternating current stimulation may provide frequency-dependent physiological entrainment for system identification. We postulate that such a mechanistic understanding from system identification of the hemodynamics response to transcranial electrical stimulation can facilitate adequate delivery of the current density to the neurovascular tissue under simultaneous portable imaging in various cerebrovascular diseases.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-01-2013
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 29-06-2017
DOI: 10.2196/MHEALTH.7236
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-11-2020
Abstract: A single session of priming cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) prior to anodal tDCS (c-a-tDCS) allows cumulative effects on motor learning and retention. However, the impact of multiple sessions of c-a-tDCS priming on learning and retention remains unclear. Here, we tested whether multiple sessions of c-a-tDCS (over 3 consecutive days) applied over the left sensorimotor cortex can further enhance motor learning and retention of an already learned visuo-motor task as compared to anodal tDCS (a-tDCS) or sham. In a between group and randomized double-blind sham-controlled study design, 25 participants separated in 3 independent groups underwent 2 days of baseline training without tDCS followed by 3-days of training with both online and offline tDCS, and two retention tests (1 and 14 days later). Each training block consisted of five trials of a 60 s circular-tracing task intersected by 60 s rest, and performance was assessed in terms of speed–accuracy trade-off represented notably by an index of performance (IP). The main findings of this exploratory study were that multiple sessions of c-a-tDCS significantly further enhanced IP above baseline training levels over the 3 training days that were maintained over the 2 retention days, but these learning and retention performance changes were not significantly different from the sham group. Subtle differences in the changes in speed–accuracy trade-off (components of IP) between c-a-tDCS (maintenance of accuracy over increasing speed) and a-tDCS (increasing speed over maintenance of accuracy) provide preliminary insights to a mechanistic modulation of motor performance with priming and polarity of tDCS.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2007
DOI: 10.1038/OBY.2007.553
Abstract: This study examines relationships between multiple aspects of the home food environment and obesity-promoting characteristics of 12- to 13-year-old adolescents' diets, specifically frequency of consumption of high-energy fluids, sweet snacks, savory snacks, and take-out foods. This was a cross-sectional study including 347 adolescents 12 to 13 years of age and their parents. Data were collected via self-completed surveys. The adolescents' diets were assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire derived from existing age-appropriate National Nutrition Survey data. An extensive range of domains within the home food environment were assessed. Bivariate linear regression analyses were run split by gender. Forced entry multiple linear regression analyses (adjusting for all variables significant in bivariate analyses as well as for maternal education) were also performed, stratified by the sex of the child. The influence of mothers, either as models for eating behaviors or as the providers of food, was pervasive. Mothers' intake of high-energy fluids (p = 0.003), sweet snacks (p = 0.010), savory snacks (p = 0.008), and take-out food (p = 0.007) was positively associated with boys' intake of all these foods. In addition, mothers' intake of high-energy fluids was positively associated with daughters' consumption of these drinks (p = 0.025). Furthermore, availability of unhealthy foods at home was positively associated with girls' sweet snack (p = 0.001), girls' savory snack (p < 0.001), boys' savory snack (p = 0.002), and, in the bivariate analyses, girls' high-energy fluid consumption (p = 0.002). This study of home food environment influences on adolescent diet highlights the pervasive influence of mothers in determining adolescents' obesity-promoting eating, providing direction for obesity prevention strategies and future research.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-10-2019
DOI: 10.1186/S12887-019-1726-X
Abstract: Relationships with others can have an impact on the attitudes of new mums to the obesity-related behaviours of their children. The aim of this study was to understand the degree to which other new mums (from their mothers’ group), friends, partners, and other family members have an influence on maternal attitudes to child feeding, physical activity and television viewing behaviours in order to more accurately target obesity prevention interventions. In a retrospective cohort study design using data from the InFANT randomized controlled trial, first-time mothers ( n = 307) from Melbourne, Australia were asked in 2012–13 how much of an influence their partner, friends, mothers’ group and family were on their attitudes to their pre-school aged child’s feeding, physical activity and television viewing behaviours. The level of influence was examined using chi-square tests, t-tests, and analysis of variance, stratified by maternal education, age and body weight. We also examined associations between the influence of others on maternal attitudes and actual behaviours including breastfeeding duration, age at introduction of solid food and time their child spent outside. Mothers rated partners as having the strongest influence on their attitudes toward all obesity-related behaviours. The percentage reporting partners as a major influence were 28.7% (95% CI 23.8,34.0), 33.1% (28.0, 38.6) and 24.2% (19.6, 29.3) for child feeding, physical activity and television viewing, respectively. More highly educated mothers rated social connections as more influential than less educated mothers. The influence of partners on attitudes toward child feeding was associated with longer breastfeeding duration. Mothers rated partners as a powerful influence on their attitudes toward the obesity-related behaviours of their pre-school children, suggesting that partners could be an important target of obesity-prevention initiatives. Since less educated mothers reported peers and family as a much weaker influence on their attitudes to obesity-related behaviours than more educated mothers, equity should be taken into consideration when contemplating obesity-prevention interventions that target mothers’ groups.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.3109/17477160902846211
Abstract: To examine whether aspects of the family food environment were associated with body mass index (BMI) z-score and weight status in children, cross-sectionally and prospectively over 3 years. Four aspects of the family food environment (breakfast eating patterns, food consumption while watching television, parental provision of energy-dense foods and child consumption of energy-dense food at home and away from home) were assessed with a questionnaire completed by parents of 161 children aged 5-6 years and 132 children aged 10-12 years in Melbourne, Australia in 2002/03. In 2002/03 and 2006, children's BMI z-score and weight status (non-overweight or overweight) was calculated from measured height and weight. At baseline, 19% of younger and 21% of older children were overweight. Three years later, a greater proportion of younger (now aged 8-9 years) compared with older (aged 13-15 years) children were classified as overweight (28% versus 18%). Few of the family food environment variables were associated with children's BMI z-score and weight status cross-sectionally and longitudinally. However, among older children, more frequent dinner consumption while watching television was associated with a higher BMI z-score longitudinally (B=0.3, 95% CI=0.0, 0.6), less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with higher odds of overweight longitudinally (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.1-4.7), and more frequent fast food consumption at home was associated with higher odds of overweight cross-sectionally (OR=3.1, 95% CI=1.4-7.0). This study found few significant associations between aspects of the family food environment and BMI z-score or weight status in a s le of Australian children.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 17-09-2018
Abstract: urrently, Australian children and adults are eating too much salt, increasing their risk of cardiovascular-related conditions. Web-based programs provide an avenue to engage the parents of primary schoolchildren in salt-specific messages, which may positively impact their own salt-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs). his pilot study aimed to determine whether parents’ salt-related KABs improved following participation in the Digital Education to LImit Salt in the Home (DELISH) Web-based education program. he DELISH program was a 5-week, home-delivered, Web-based intervention, with a pre- and posttest design, targeting schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years and their parents. Parents received weekly Web-based educational newsletters and text messages and completed online pre- and postprogram surveys assessing salt-related KABs. Upon completion of the program, all parents were also invited to complete an online evaluation survey. Changes in KABs outcomes were assessed using McNemar tests and paired t tests. f the 80 parents that commenced the program, 73 parents (mean age 41.0, SD 7.0 years 86% (63/73) females) completed both pre- and postsurveys. Overall, mean score for salt-related knowledge improved (+3.6 [standard error (SE) 0.41] points), and mean behavior score also improved (+4.5 [SE 0.61] points), indicating a higher frequency of engaging in behaviors to reduce salt in the diet, and mean attitude score decreased (−0.7 [SE 0.19] points), representing lower importance of using salt to enhance the taste of food (all P .001). Following participation, the proportion of parents aware of the daily salt intake recommendation increased from 40% (29/73) to 74% (54/73) (P .001), and awareness of bread as the main source of salt increased from 58% (42/73) to 95% (69/73) (P .001). The proportion of parents who agreed that salt should be used in cooking to enhance the flavor of food decreased from 30% (22/73) to 11% (8/73) (P=.002) and the proportion who agreed that sodium information displayed on food labels was difficult to understand decreased from 52% (38/73) to 32% (23/73) (P=.009). There was a reduction in the proportion of parents who reported adding salt during cooking (55% [40/73] vs 41% [30/73] P=.03) and at the table (32% [23/73] vs 18% [13/73] P=.002). Of the 16 parents who completed the evaluation survey, 75% (12/16) enjoyed the program, and all parents found the newsletters to be useful. Almost all parents (15/16, 94%) agreed that the DELISH program would be useful to other parents. he improvement in salt-related KABs in the DELISH program indicates the potential for online technology, to disseminate simple salt reduction education messages to families with primary school–aged children. Future work should seek to improve the quality of data collected by including a larger s le size and a control group to integrate the program within the school setting to enable wider dissemination.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 10-01-2012
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980011003430
Abstract: Maternal nutrition knowledge has frequently been identified as an important target for nutrition promotion interventions. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether maternal nutrition knowledge is more strongly associated with the mother's own diet or that of her child. Cross-sectional multivariate linear regression with interactions analyses of survey data. Socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Victoria, Australia. Five hundred and twenty-three mothers and their children who participated in the Resilience for Eating and Physical Activity Despite Inequality (READI) study, a cross-sectional survey study conducted in 2009 among women and their children residing in socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. In adjusted models, for three (vegetable, chocolate/lollies and soft drink consumption) out of the seven dietary outcomes assessed, there was a significant association between maternal nutrition knowledge and maternal diet, whereas for the children's diets none of the seven outcomes were associated with maternal nutrition knowledge. Statistical comparison of regression coefficients showed no difference between the maternal nutrition knowledge–maternal diet association and the maternal nutrition knowledge–child diet association. Promoting maternal nutrition knowledge may represent an important avenue for improving diet in mothers from socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, but more information is needed on how and when this knowledge is translated to benefits for their children's diet.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2019.04.009
Abstract: Suboptimal vegetable and fruit consumption by young children is common. Identifying predictors of vegetable and fruit intakes is important for informing strategies to promote sufficient intakes of these foods from early life. The aim of the present study was to examine predictors of toddlers' vegetable and fruit intakes at age 18 months. This study involved secondary analysis of data from 361 child-mother dyads participating in the Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial in 2008-2010 at child ages four, nine and 18 months. Children's vegetable and fruit intakes were assessed at age 18 months using multiple 24-h dietary recalls. Data on potential predictor measures were collected via parent-completed questionnaires when children were four or nine months of age. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression models were used to test associations between children's average daily vegetable or fruit intake and potential predictors controlling for treatment arm and clustering by parent group. Multivariable models also controlled for covariates and potential confounders. Home availability of vegetables at age nine months was found to predict children's vegetable intake at age 18 months and remained significant (β = 20.19, 95% CI:7.23, 33.15, p = 0.003) in the multivariable model. Children's average daily fruit intake at age 18 months was predicted by maternal education at child age four months and the availability of fruits in their home at child age nine months. Maternal education remained significant (β = 30.83, 95% CI:12.17, 49.48, p = 0.002) in the multivariable model. Strategies to promote adequate vegetable and fruit intakes among young children should address known barriers to the availability of vegetables and fruits in the home from early in life. Additionally, messages encouraging fruit consumption may need to be tailored to mothers with lower levels of education.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2014.05.022
Abstract: Although mothers of young children frequently experience negative affect, little is known about the association between these symptoms and their children's eating behaviors. We aimed to test a model in which maternal negative affect would be related to maternal emotional eating which in turn would be associated with child emotional eating through maternal feeding practices (emotional and instrumental feeding) in a cross-sectional s le of mothers and their children. A s le of 306 mothers (mean age = 35.0 years, SD = 0.46) of 2-year-old children completed a survey assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, maternal emotional eating, maternal feeding practices, and child emotional eating. Maternal symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were correlated with maternal emotional eating (p < .001), and child emotional eating (p < .05). The initial model proposed was not a good fit to the data. Modification indices indicated that the model would be improved if a direct pathway was added between maternal and child emotional eating. As this model was theoretically plausible these changes were made. The resulting model proved a good fit to the data, χ2 = 17.36, p = .098, and explained 29% of the variance in child emotional eating. High levels of negative affect and associated emotional eating in mothers may contribute to the use of instrumental and emotional feeding practices. Our findings suggested that maternal negative affect has an indirect effect on children's emotional eating, primarily through mothers' own emotional eating and feeding her child to regulate the child's emotions.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-04-2015
DOI: 10.1111/MCN.12031
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-05-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2013.12.021
Abstract: Involvement in meal preparation and eating meals with the family are associated with better dietary patterns in adolescents, however little research has included older children or longitudinal study designs. This 3-year longitudinal study examines cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between family food involvement, family dinner meal frequency and dietary patterns during late childhood. Questionnaires were completed by parents of 188 children from Greater Melbourne, Australia at baseline in 2002 (mean age=11.25years) and at follow-up in 2006 (mean age=14.16years). Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to identify dietary patterns. Factor analysis (FA) was used to determine the principal factors from six indicators of family food involvement. Multiple linear regression models were used to predict the dietary patterns of children and adolescents at baseline and at follow-up, 3years later, from baseline indicators of family food involvement and frequency of family dinner meals. PCA revealed two dietary patterns, labeled a healthful pattern and an energy-dense pattern. FA revealed one factor for family food involvement. Cross-sectionally among boys, family food involvement score (β=0.55, 95% CI: 0.02, 1.07) and eating family dinner meals daily (β=1.11, 95% CI: 0.27, 1.96) during late childhood were positively associated with the healthful pattern. Eating family dinner meals daily was inversely associated with the energy-dense pattern, cross-sectionally among boys (β=-0.56, 95% CI: -1.06, -0.06). No significant cross-sectional associations were found among girls and no significant longitudinal associations were found for either gender. Involvement in family food and eating dinner with the family during late childhood may have a positive influence on dietary patterns of boys. No evidence was found to suggest the effects on dietary patterns persist into adolescence.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 31-05-2017
DOI: 10.2196/RESPROT.7597
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-07-2023
DOI: 10.1186/S40814-023-01278-2
Abstract: Fussy eating is most often a developmentally typical behaviour, generally presenting during toddlerhood. However, up to half of parents of young children are concerned about fussy eating, and this concern may mediate the use of nonresponsive feeding practises, such as coercive or unstructured feeding and using food to reward eating. Despite the high prevalence of parental concern for fussy eating and the negative impacts nonresponsive feeding practises have on children’s health and diets, no previous digital intervention to improve the feeding practises of parents of toddlers concerned about fussy eating has been evaluated. This article describes the protocol of a randomised controlled feasibility pilot aiming to evaluate Fussy Eating Rescue, a purely web app based intervention for parents of toddlers. The primary aim is to investigate feasibility and acceptability secondary aims are to explore indications of intervention effect on parents’ feeding practises or children’s eating behaviours. Fussy Eating Rescue features include: (1) a Tracker, that allows parents to track repeated offers of food, (2) Topics, providing information on fussy eating, effective feeding strategies, and general nutrition, (3) Rescues, containing quick references to material supporting Topics contents, (4) Recipes, and (5) SMS notifications. Parents of toddlers (12–36 months old, n = 50) who have concerns about fussy eating will be recruited via Facebook. Parents will be randomised to an intervention group, which receives access to the app for 6 weeks, or to wait-listed control. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 6 weeks after app use, using online questionnaires and app usage statistics. Primary outcomes include participant retention rate, intervention engagement, app usability, perceived ease in using the app, perceived usefulness of the app, and user satisfaction. Secondary outcome measures include parents’ feeding practises and children’s eating behaviours. Results will inform whether Fussy Eating Rescue is a feasible way to engage parents concerned for their toddler’s fussy eating behaviours. If feasible and acceptable to users, a larger trial will further examine the efficacy of the Fussy Eating app in improving parents’ feeding practises and children’s eating behaviours. Prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on 15 July, 2021 (ACTRN12621000925842).
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2007
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.ANNEPIDEM.2010.11.001
Abstract: To examine the clustering and patterns of obesity-related behaviors in children and their mothers and the concordance between mother and child pairs. Primary school-aged children and their mothers in Victoria, Australia, participated (data from 549 mothers, 352 children, and 304 mother/child pairs). Examination of behavior patterns included 1) assessment of the overlap in national physical activity, screen-time, and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines being met and 2) cluster analysis of positive (consumption of fruits and vegetables) and negative (consumption of energy dense food/drink) dietary behaviors, sedentary behavior/screen-time, and physical activity. Only partial overlap was observed between groups meeting national recommendations for sedentary behavior and consumption of fruit and vegetables and energy-dense food. Less than 40% of mothers and children were meeting sedentary behavior guidelines. In both mothers and children five clusters were identified. With the exception of a single cluster in children with high levels of physical activity, clusters of healthy and unhealthy behavior were concordant in mothers and their children (p < .0001), particularly those defined by sedentary behaviors and consumption of energy-dense food/drink. Complex patterns of obesity-related behaviors exist in children and their mothers. The concordance of clusters between children and their mothers suggests that modeling of sedentary behavior and creation of a child's eating environment by parents may be particularly important influences on children's behavior.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 25-07-2018
Abstract: n early life, both mothers and fathers are important influences on their children’s diet, active play, and obesity risk. Parents are increasingly relying on the internet and social media as a source of information on all aspects of parenting. However, little is known about the use of Web-based sources of information relevant to family lifestyle behaviors and, in particular, differences between mothers’ and fathers’ use and sociodemographic predictors. he objective of this study was to examine if mothers and fathers differ in their use of the internet for information on their own health and their child’s health, feeding, and playing and to examine sociodemographic predictors of the use of the internet for information on these topics. e conducted a secondary analysis on data collected from mothers (n=297) and fathers (n=207) participating in the extended Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT Extend) when their children were 36 months of age. The main outcome variables were the use of the internet for information gathering for parents’ own health and child health, feeding, and playing. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the sociodemographic predictors of outcomes. ompared with fathers (n=296), a higher proportion of mothers (n=198) used the internet for information on their own health (230, 78.5% vs 93, 46.5%), child health (226, 77.1% vs 84, 42.4%), child feeding (136, 46.3% vs 35, 17.5%), and child play (123, 42.1% vs 28, 14.0%) and intended to use Facebook to connect with other parents (200, 74.9% vs 43, 30.5%). Despite the high use of the internet to support family health behaviors, only 15.9% (47/296) of mothers reported consulting health practitioners for advice and help for their own or their child’s weight, diet, or physical activity. Sociodemographic predictors of internet use differed between mothers and fathers and explained only a small proportion of the variance in internet use to support healthy family lifestyle behaviors. ur findings support the use of the internet and Facebook as an important potential avenue for reaching mothers with information relevant to their own health, child health, child diet, and active play. However, further research is required to understand the best avenues for engaging fathers with information on healthy family lifestyle behaviors to support this important role in their child’s life. SRCTN Registry ISRCTN81847050 www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN81847050
Publisher: SAE International
Date: 03-04-2018
DOI: 10.4271/2018-01-0298
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 16-08-2012
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980012003679
Abstract: To measure total daily salt intake using 24 h urinary Na excretion within a s le of Victorian schoolchildren aged 5–13 years and to assess discretionary salt use habits of children and parents. Cross-sectional study. Completed within a convenience s le of independent primary schools ( n 9) located in Victoria, Australia. Two hundred and sixty children completed a 24 h urine collection over a school (34 %) or non-school day (66 %). S les deemed incomplete ( n 18), an over-collection ( n 1) or that were incorrectly processed at the laboratory ( n 3) were excluded. The s le comprised 120 boys and 118 girls with a mean age of 9·8 ( sd 1·7) years. The average 24 h urinary Na excretion ( n 238) was 103 ( sd 43) mmol/24 h (salt equivalent 6·0 ( sd 2·5) g/d). Daily Na excretion did not differ by sex boys 105 ( sd 46) mmol/24 h (salt equivalent 6·1 ( sd 2·7) g/d) and girls 100 ( sd 41) mmol/24 h (salt equivalent 5·9 ( sd 2·4) g/d P = 0·38). Sixty-nine per cent of children ( n 164) exceeded the recommended daily Upper Limit for Na. Reported discretionary salt use was common: two-thirds of parents reported adding salt during cooking and almost half of children reported adding salt at the table. The majority of children had salt intakes exceeding the recommended daily Upper Limit. Strategies to lower salt intake in children are urgently required, and should include product reformulation of lower-sodium food products combined with interventions targeting discretionary salt use within the home.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 19-04-2018
DOI: 10.2196/MHEALTH.9040
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 09-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2019-030538
Abstract: School canteens are the most frequently accessed take-away food outlet by Australian children. The rapid development of online lunch ordering systems for school canteens presents new opportunities to deliver novel public health nutrition interventions to school-aged children. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a behavioural intervention in reducing the energy, saturated fat, sugar and sodium content of online canteen lunch orders for primary school children. The study will employ a cluster randomised controlled trial design. Twenty-six primary schools in New South Wales, Australia, that have an existing online canteen ordering system will be randomised to receive either a multi-strategy behavioural intervention or a control (the standard online canteen ordering system). The intervention will be integrated into the existing online canteen system and will seek to encourage the purchase of healthier food and drinks for school lunch orders (ie, items lower in energy, saturated fat, sugar and sodium). The behavioural intervention will use evidence-based choice architecture strategies to redesign the online menu and ordering system including: menu labelling, placement, prompting and provision of feedback and incentives. The primary trial outcomes will be the mean energy (kilojoules), saturated fat (grams), sugar (grams) and sodium (milligrams) content of lunch orders placed via the online system, and will be assessed 12 months after baseline data collection. The study was approved by the ethics committees of the University of Newcastle (H-2017–0402) and the New South Wales Department of Education and Communities (SERAP 2018065), and the Catholic Education Office Dioceses of Sydney, Parramatta, Lismore, Maitland-Newcastle, Bathurst, Canberra-Goulburn, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga and Wilcannia-Forbes. Study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, reports, presentations at relevant national and international conferences and via briefings to key stakeholders. Results will be used to inform future implementation of public health nutrition interventions through school canteens, and may be transferable to other food settings or online systems for ordering food. ACTRN12618000855224.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 09-2012
Publisher: PAGEPress Publications
Date: 13-06-2016
Abstract: Functional Muscle metabolic demand during contractions evoked by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been consistently documented to be greater than voluntary contractions (VOL) at the same force level (10-50% maximal voluntary contraction-MVC). However, we have shown using a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique that local muscle metabolic demand is similar between NMES and VOL performed at MVC levels, thus controversy exists. This study therefore compared biceps brachii muscle metabolic demand (tissue oxygenation index-TOI and total hemoglobin volume-tHb) during a 10s isometric contraction of the elbow flexors between NMES (stimulation frequency of 30Hz and current level to evoke 30% MVC) and VOL at 30% MVC (VOL-30%MVC) and MVC (VOL-MVC) level in 8 healthy men (23-33-y). Greater changes in TOI and tHb induced by NMES than VOL-30%MVC confirm previous studies of a greater local metabolic demand for NMES than VOL at the same force level. The same TOI and tHb changes for NMES and VOL-MVC suggest that local muscle metabolic demand and intramuscular pressure were similar between conditions. In conclusion, these findings indicate that NMES induce a similar local muscle metabolic demand as that of maximal VOL.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-06-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.2047-6310.2012.00060.X
Abstract: Evidence for age-related variation in the relationship between obesity-related behaviours and socioeconomic position may assist in the targeting of dietary and physical activity interventions among children. To investigate the relationship between different indicators of socioeconomic position and obesity-related behaviours across childhood and adolescence. Data were from 4487 children aged 2 to 16 years participating in the cross-sectional 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Socioeconomic position was defined by the highest education of the primary or secondary carer and parental income. Activity was assessed using recall methods with physical activity also assessed using pedometers. Intake of energy-dense drinks and snack foods, fruits and vegetables was assessed using 2 × 24-h dietary recalls. A socioeconomic gradient was evident for each dietary measure (although in age-specific analyses, not for energy-dense snacks in older children), as well as television viewing, but not physical activity. Whether each behaviour was most strongly related to parental income or education of the primary or secondary carer was age and sex dependent. The socioeconomic gradient was strongest for television viewing time and consumption of fruit and energy-dense drinks. A strong socioeconomic gradient in eating behaviours and television viewing time was observed. Relationships for particular behaviours differed by age, sex and how socioeconomic position was defined. Socioeconomic indicators define different population groups and represent different components of socioeconomic position. These findings may provide insights into who should be targeted in preventive health efforts at different life stages.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2013
Abstract: Initiatives to promote children's nutrition and prevent childhood obesity are vital. Dietary patterns are a useful way to characterize whole diets, though no previous early childhood health promotion trial to our knowledge has assessed intervention impact using this approach. This research aimed to assess the effect of a healthy eating and physical activity intervention on young children's dietary patterns. The Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial Program was a health promotion, cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 542 families. Child diets were assessed by multiple 24-h recalls postintervention at ~18 mo of age. An Obesity Protective Dietary Index (OPDI) was created and dietary patterns were also assessed by principal components analysis (PCA). These outcomes were used to compare intervention and control participants to test the effectiveness of the intervention. Children in the intervention arm scored higher (15.6 ± 5.9) than those in the control arm (14.5 ± 6.7) for the OPDI (scores out of 30, P = 0.01). Three dietary patterns were identified by PCA however, the scores did not substantially differ between the intervention and control arms. In conclusion, this paper presents novel results in both the evaluation of an early childhood health promotion intervention and the assessment of child dietary patterns. The results highlight the capacity for such an initiative to improve child diets and the need for further research in this area.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2005
DOI: 10.1016/J.BEEM.2005.04.008
Abstract: Childhood obesity is a complex disease with different genetic, metabolic, environmental and behavioural components that are interrelated and potentially confounding, thus making causal pathways difficult to define. Given the tracking of obesity and the associated risk factors, childhood is an important period for prevention. To date, evidence would support preventative interventions that encourage physical activity and a healthy diet, restrict sedentary activities and offer behavioural support. However, these interventions should involve not only the child but the whole family, school and community. If the current global obesity epidemic is to be halted, further large-scale, well-designed prevention studies are required, particularly within settings outside of the USA, in order to expand the currently limited evidence base upon which clinical recommendations and public health approaches can be formulated. This must be accompanied by enhanced monitoring of paediatric obesity prevalence and continued support from all stakeholders at global, national, regional and local levels.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-11-2011
Publisher: S. KARGER AG
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1159/000356352
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAND.2017.03.016
Abstract: High consumption of protein has been associated with accelerated growth and adiposity in early childhood. To describe intake, food sources, correlates, and tracking of protein in young children. Secondary analysis of Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT). Dietary data were collected using three 24-hour dietary recalls at ages 9 and 18 months as well as 3.5 and 5 years. First-time mothers and their child (n=542) participated in an 18-month intervention to prevent childhood obesity and the cohort was followed-up with no intervention when children were aged 3.5 and 5 years. Protein intake, food sources, correlates, and tracking of protein. Child and maternal correlates of protein intake were identified using linear regression and tracking of protein intake was examined using Pearson correlations of residualized protein scores between time points. Mean protein (grams per day) intake was 29.7±11.0, 46.3±11.5, 54.2±13.8, and 60.0±14.8 at 9 and 18 months and 3.5 and 5 years, respectively. Protein intakes at all ages were two to three times greater than age-appropriate Australian recommendations. The primary source of protein at 9 months was breast/formula milk. At later ages, the principal sources were milk/milk products, breads/cereals, and meat/meat products. Earlier breastfeeding cessation, earlier introduction of solids, high dairy milk consumption (≥500 mL), and high maternal education were significant predictors of high protein intake at various times (P<0.05). Slight tracking was found for protein intakes at 9 months, 18 months, and 5 years (r=0.16 to 0.21 P<0.01). This study provides unique insights into food sources and correlates of young children's high protein intakes, and confirms that early protein intakes track slightly up to age 5 years. These finding have potential to inform nutrition interventions and strategies to address high protein intakes and protein-related obesity risk.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-06-2013
DOI: 10.1111/OBR.12053
Abstract: Postpartum weight retention can predict future weight gain and long-term obesity. Moreover, failure to lose weight gained during pregnancy can lead to increased body mass index for subsequent pregnancies, increasing the risk of adverse maternal and foetal pregnancy outcomes. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions aimed at reducing postpartum weight retention. Seven electronic databases were searched for intervention studies and trials enrolling women with singleton pregnancies and published in English from January 1990 to October 2012. Studies were included when postpartum weight was a main outcome and when diet and/or exercise and/or weight monitoring were intervention components. No limitations were placed on age, body mass index or parity. Eleven studies were identified as eligible for inclusion in this review, of which 10 were randomized controlled trials. Seven studies were successful in decreasing postpartum weight retention, six of which included both dietary and physical activity components, incorporated via a range of methods and delivered by a variety of health practitioners. Few studies utilized modern technologies as alternatives to traditional face-to-face support and cost-effectiveness was not assessed in any of the studies. These results suggest that postpartum weight loss is achievable, which may form an important component of obesity prevention in mothers however, the optimal setting, delivery, intervention length and recruitment approach remains unclear.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.JADA.2010.04.003
Abstract: Fruit and vegetable intake may reduce the risk of some chronic diseases. However, many children consume less-than-recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables. Because health professionals and dietetics practitioners often work with parents to increase children's fruit and vegetable intake, assessing their opinions about the effectiveness of parenting practices is an important step in understanding how to promote fruit and vegetable intake among preschool-aged children. Using a cross-sectional design, collaborators from six countries distributed an Internet survey to health and nutrition organization members. A self-selected s le reported their perceptions of the effectiveness of 39 parenting practices intended to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool-aged children from May 18, 2008, to September 16, 2008. A total of 889 participants (55% United States, 22.6% Mexico, 10.9% Australia, 4.4% Spain, 3.3% Chile, 2.2% United Kingdom, and 1.6% other countries) completed the survey. The fruit and vegetable intake-related parenting practices items were categorized into three dimensions (structure, responsiveness, and control) based on a parenting theory conceptual framework and dichotomized as effective/ineffective based on professional perceptions. The theoretically derived factor structures for effective and ineffective parenting practices were evaluated using separate confirmatory factor analyses and demonstrated acceptable fit. Fruit and vegetable intake-related parenting practices that provide external control were perceived as ineffective or counterproductive, whereas fruit and vegetable intake-related parenting practices that provided structure, nondirective control, and were responsive were perceived as effective in getting preschool-aged children to consume fruit and vegetables. Future research needs to develop and validate a parent-reported measure of these fruit and vegetable intake-related parenting practices and to empirically evaluate the effect of parental use of the parenting practices on child fruit and vegetable consumption.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-2007
Abstract: The home food environment is central to the development of healthy eating behaviours, but associations between the home food environment and children's food choices are not yet fully understood. The aims of this study were to explore parents' views regarding factors that influence children's food choices and parents' decision-making regarding the food they provide to their children. In-depth one-on-one interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule. Key concepts and themes were coded independently by two investigators. Participants include seventeen parents (16 mothers and 1 father) of children in their first year of formal schooling (aged 5-6 years). Five main themes emerged from the interviews: food marketing, food availability/food exposure, feeding strategies, modelling of eating and opportunities for food involvement. Parents believed that food marketing influenced their child's food preferences but differed in the ways they managed these influences. The food made available to children was also seen to influence what a child ate. Yet, although some parents believed it was the parents' role to determine what foods were made available to their child, others offered food on the basis of the child's tastes or preferences. The use of food as a reward was a feeding strategy employed by many parents. Family mealtimes were seen as an important opportunity for modelling of eating behaviour by parents. Peers were also seen to influence children's food preferences and eating behaviour. Finally, many parents believed that involving children in the preparation of food had a positive impact on children's food choices. Associations between the home food environment and children's food choices are complex and involve multiple mediators. Parents' views on the promoters and reinforcers of their decision-making regarding food and their child's food choices provide useful insights into these mediating factors. Increased understanding of these relationships is likely to enhance obesity prevention efforts.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-08-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.JADA.2011.02.011
Abstract: Mothers are important role models for eating and are gatekeepers of food in the home. An understanding of maternal dietary behaviors could assist in the promotion of healthy eating for both mother and child. To investigate the independent contribution of socioeconomic position to nutrition knowledge and diet quality, and the contribution of nutrition knowledge to diet quality and to assess nutrition knowledge as a mediator between socioeconomic position and diet quality. Subjects included first-time Australian mothers residing in Melbourne, Australia (n=527). Cross-sectional data from the Melbourne InFANT (Infant Feeding, Activity, and Nutrition Trial) Program. A self-completed validated food-frequency questionnaire recorded dietary intake during the past year and a diet quality score was developed. Maternal education was used to classify socioeconomic position. Regression analyses were undertaken to assess associations between socioeconomic position and nutrition knowledge score socioeconomic position and diet score and nutrition knowledge score and diet score. Baron and Kenny's approach to mediation analyses was used to assess nutrition knowledge as a mediator. Overall maternal diet quality was poor, with average diet quality scores of 52.4, 52.9, and 57.1 out of a possible 80, in the low, medium, and high socioeconomic groups, respectively. Maternal diet quality was significantly better in mothers of high socioeconomic position as compared with the low socioeconomic position group (P<0.001). Overall nutrition knowledge was found to be quite high, with mean nutrition knowledge scores of 12.5, 12.7, and 13.7 out of a possible 17, in the low, medium, and high socioeconomic groups, respectively. Maternal nutrition knowledge was found to partly mediate the association between socioeconomic position and maternal diet quality. Poor maternal dietary quality may have implications for both mother and child, and socioeconomic position and nutrition knowledge are likely to be important. Effective interventions to support mothers to achieve healthy diets for themselves and their families are needed.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 24-06-2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-10-2014
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-02-2006
Abstract: The family food environment (FFE) is likely to exert important influences on young children's eating. Examination of multiple aspects of the FFE may provide useful insights regarding which of these might most effectively be targeted to prevent childhood obesity. To assess the associations between the FFE and a range of obesity-promoting dietary behaviors in 5-6-year-old children. Cross-sectional study. Five hundred and sixty families s led from three socio-economically distinct areas. Predictors included parental perceptions of their child's diet, food availability, child feeding practices, parental modeling of eating and food preparation and television (TV) exposure. Dietary outcomes included energy intake, vegetable, sweet snack, savory snack and high-energy (non-dairy) fluid consumption. Multiple linear regression analyses, adjusted for all other predictor variables and maternal education, showed that several aspects of the FFE were associated with dietary outcomes likely to promote fatness in 5-6-year-old children. For ex le, increased TV viewing time was associated with increased index of energy intake, increased sweet snack and high-energy drink consumption, and deceased vegetable intake. In addition, parent's increased confidence in the adequacy of their child's diet was associated with increased consumption of sweet and savory snacks and decreased vegetable consumption. This study substantially extends previous research in the area, providing important insights with which to guide family-based obesity prevention strategies.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2011
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 16-02-2021
DOI: 10.2196/18311
Abstract: In Western countries, children’s diets are often low in fruits and vegetables and high in discretionary foods. Diet in early life tends to track through childhood and youth and even into adulthood. Interventions should, therefore, be delivered in periods when habitual traits are established, as in toddlerhood when children adapt to their family’s diet. In this study, we assessed the effect of the Food4toddlers eHealth intervention, which aimed to enhance toddlers’ diets by shaping their food and eating environment. The Food4toddlers randomized controlled trial was conducted in Norway in 2017-2018. Parent-child dyads were recruited through social media. In total, 298 parents completed an online questionnaire at baseline (mean child age 10.9 months, SD 1.2). Postintervention questionnaires were completed immediately after the intervention (ie, follow-up 1 mean child age 17.8 months, SD 1.3) and 6 months after the intervention (ie, follow-up 2 mean child age 24.2 months, SD 1.9). The intervention was guided by social cognitive theory, which targets the linked relationship between the person, the behavior, and the environment. The intervention group (148/298, 49.7%) got access to the Food4toddlers website for 6 months from baseline. The website included information on diet and on how to create a healthy food and eating environment as well as activities, recipes, and collaboration opportunities. To assess intervention effects on child diet from baseline to follow-up 1 and from baseline to follow-up 2, we used generalized estimating equations and a time × group interaction term. Between-group differences in changes over time for frequency and variety of fruits and vegetables and frequency of discretionary foods were assessed. At follow-up 1, a significant time × group interaction was observed for the frequency of vegetable intake (P=.02). The difference between groups in the change from baseline to follow-up 1 was 0.46 vegetable items per day (95% CI 0.06-0.86) in favor of the intervention group. No other significant between-group differences in dietary changes from baseline to follow-up 1 or follow-up 2 were observed. However, there is a clear time trend showing that the intake of discretionary foods increases by time from less than 1 item per week at baseline to more than 4 items per week at 2 years of age (P .001), regardless of group. A positive intervention effect was observed for the frequency of vegetable intake at follow-up 1 but not at follow-up 2. No other between-group effects on diet were observed. eHealth interventions of longer duration, including reminders after the main content of the intervention has been delivered, may be needed to obtain long-terms effects, along with tailoring in a digital or a personal form. International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 92980420 0.1186/ISRCTN92980420
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 07-09-2021
DOI: 10.2196/26054
Abstract: School food outlets represent a key setting for public health nutrition intervention. The recent proliferation of web-based food ordering systems provides a unique opportunity to support healthy purchasing from schools. Embedding evidence-based choice architecture strategies within these routinely used systems provides the opportunity to impact the purchasing decisions of many users simultaneously and warrants investigation. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a multistrategy behavioral intervention implemented via a web-based school canteen lunch ordering system in reducing the energy, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium content of primary students’ web-based lunch orders. The study used a parallel-group, cohort, cluster randomized controlled trial design with 2207 students from 17 Australian primary schools. Schools with a web-based canteen lunch ordering system were randomly assigned to receive either a multistrategy behavioral intervention that included choice architecture strategies embedded in the web-based system (n=9 schools) or the standard web-based ordering system only (n=8 control schools). Automatically collected student purchasing data at baseline (term 2, 2018) and 12 months later (term 2, 2019) were used to assess trial outcomes. Primary trial outcomes included the mean energy (kJ), saturated fat (g), sugar (g), and sodium (mg) content of student lunch orders. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of all web-based lunch order items classified as everyday, occasional, and caution (based on the New South Wales Healthy School Canteen Strategy) and canteen revenue. From baseline to follow-up, the intervention lunch orders had significantly lower energy content (−69.4 kJ, 95% CI −119.6 to −19.1 P=.01) and saturated fat content (−0.6 g, 95% CI −0.9 to −0.4 P .001) than the control lunch orders, but they did not have significantly lower sugar or sodium content. There was also a small significant between-group difference in the percentage of energy from saturated fat (−0.9%, 95% CI −1.4% to −0.5% P .001) but not in the percentage of energy from sugar (+1.1%, 95% CI 0.2% to 1.9% P=.02). Relative to control schools, intervention schools had significantly greater odds of having everyday items purchased (odds ratio [OR] 1.7, 95% CI 1.5-2.0 P .001), corresponding to a 9.8% increase in everyday items, and lower odds of having occasional items purchased (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.8 P .001), corresponding to a 7.7% decrease in occasional items) however, there was no change in the odds of having caution (least healthy) items purchased (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-1.0 P=.05). Furthermore, there was no change in schools’ revenue between groups. Given the evidence of small statistically significant improvements in the energy and saturated fat content, acceptability, and wide reach, this intervention has the potential to influence dietary choices at a population level, and further research is warranted to determine its impact when implemented at scale. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12618000855224 www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375075. RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030538
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2010.04.006
Abstract: This study examines associations between parental feeding restriction at baseline and child body mass index (BMI) z-score at 3-year follow-up. Parents of 204 5-6-year-old and 188 10-12-year-old children completed the Child Feeding Questionnaire at baseline (2002/3). In 2002/3 and 2005/6, children's BMI z-score was calculated from measured height and weight. Analyses were stratified by age-group. The association of follow-up zBMI and baseline feeding restriction score was explored using (i) linear regression with adjustment for baseline zBMI and (ii) with further adjustments for baseline maternal BMI, maternal education level and child sex. Baseline restriction was associated with follow-up zBMI at 3 years in 5-6-year-old children and was largely unchanged when adjusting for child sex, maternal BMI and education. Restriction was not associated with follow-up zBMI in 10-12-year-old children. This longitudinal study adds important depth to our understanding of associations between restrictive feeding and change in zBMI, suggesting that restriction of energy-dense foods and drinks may be protective of unhealthy weight gain in younger children but may have no effect among older children. These findings support a reconsideration of the notion that restriction is likely to result in increased child weight.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 25-04-2018
DOI: 10.2196/MHEALTH.9303
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.YPMED.2011.07.014
Abstract: To examine the tracking of children's body mass index, television viewing, and dietary intake over five-years. In 2002/3 (T1) parents of children aged 5-6 years (n=175) and 10-12 years (n=121), from Victoria, Australia, completed measures assessing their child's frequency of fruit, vegetable, and energy-dense sweet and savory snack consumption, and their child's television (TV) viewing. Children's height and weight were measured by researchers and sex-age adjusted body mass index (BMI) calculated. All measures were repeated in 2006 (T2) and 2008 (T3). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) (standardized stability coefficients, β) were used to assess tracking and were interpreted as: β 0.6=high. High standardized stability coefficients were found for BMI (β=0.74-0.92), TV viewing (β=0.65-0.73), and frequency of fruit consumption (β=0.73-0.89) among younger and older children. Moderate-to-high standardized stability coefficients were found for frequency of vegetable (β=0.52-0.86), energy-dense sweet (β=0.41-0.65), and savory snack consumption (0.40-0.67) among younger and older children. BMI, TV viewing and dietary intake patterns are moderate-highly stable throughout childhood and into adolescence. Further research that identifies and targets high risk groups to prevent increased BMI, reduce TV viewing and promote healthy dietary behaviors may be justified.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: 16-09-2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-04-2021
DOI: 10.1002/OBY.23136
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-08-2022
DOI: 10.1002/JOCB.562
Abstract: Creativity is a fundamental human accomplishment from scientific advances to composing music. The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) are important metacontrol hubs in flexibility and persistence brain states, respectively. Those hubs are related to ergent thinking, insight problem‐solving, and convergent thinking. In this double‐blind, between‐subjects study, 81 healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups ( n = 27) that received a combined transcranial direct current stimulation–transcranial random noise stimulation (tDCS‐tRNS) protocol with the anode over the left DLPFC and cathode over the left IFG (+DLPFC−IFG), the opposite montage (−DLPFC+IFG), and a sham group (+DLPFC−IFG). Both active tDCS‐tRNS groups received 20 min of 1 mA tDCS with 1 mA (100–500 Hz) tRNS. Creativity was assessed before (baseline) and during stimulation with the Unusual Uses, Picture Completion (PC), Remote Association test (RAT), Matchstick Arithmetic (MA), and Nine‐dot (ND) problems. Only the +DLPFC−IFG group had significantly higher scores compared with sham in the RAT ( p = .009), PC fluency ( p = .018), PC originality ( p = .007), ND ( p = .007), and MA ( p = .032). Overall, −DLPFC+IFG had greater scores in all creativity tests compared with sham. Implications from the metacontrol theory are discussed.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-11-2018
DOI: 10.1111/CPF.12485
Abstract: This study used non-invasive functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging to monitor bilateral sensorimotor region activation during unilateral voluntary (VOL) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)-evoked movements. In eight healthy male volunteers, fNIRS was used to measure relative changes in oxyhaemoglobin (O NMES-evoked movements induced significantly greater activation (increase in O fNIRS neuroimaging enables quantification of bilateral sensorimotor regional activation profiles during voluntary and NMES-evoked wrist extension movements.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 29-10-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.JNEB.2018.04.002
Abstract: To determine the efficacy of a Web-based salt reduction program on children's salt-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs), self-efficacy, and intake of dietary salt. Pretest and posttest. An online survey determined KABs and self-efficacy and a 24-hour urine collection revealed salt intake. Victoria, Australia. Child-parent dyads (n = 102) recruited from 5 government schools. A 5-week behavior-based education program delivered via weekly online interactive education sessions. Change in KABs, self-efficacy, and daily salt intake. Changes in outcomes were assessed using McNemar test, paired t test, and Cohen's δ (CD). A total of 83 children participated (mean age, 9.2 years [SD, 0.8 years] 59% girls) 35% to 76% of children viewed weekly education session. Children with complete survey data (n = 75) had improved scores for salt-related knowledge (+3.6 ± 0.4 points P < .001 CD: 1.16), behaviors (+1.3 ± 0.1 points P < .001 CD: 1.08), and self-efficacy (+0.9 ± 0.2 points P < .001 CD: 0.64), but not attitude. Children with valid urine collections (n = 51) showed no change in salt intake. Participation resulted in improvement of salt related knowledge, self-efficacy and behavior. Further research is required to confirm these results using a more robust study design which includes a control group. In addition, the long term impact on children's salt intakes of comparable education programs needs to be assessed.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-07-2016
DOI: 10.1007/S10548-016-0507-1
Abstract: Recently, interest has been growing to understand the underlying dynamic directional relationship between simultaneously activated regions of the brain during motor task performance. Such directionality analysis (or effective connectivity analysis), based on non-invasive electrophysiological (electroencephalography-EEG) and hemodynamic (functional near infrared spectroscopy-fNIRS and functional magnetic resonance imaging-fMRI) neuroimaging modalities can provide an estimate of the motor task-related information flow from one brain region to another. Since EEG, fNIRS and fMRI modalities achieve different spatial and temporal resolutions of motor-task related activation in the brain, the aim of this study was to determine the effective connectivity of cortico-cortical sensorimotor networks during finger movement tasks measured by each neuroimaging modality. Nine healthy subjects performed right hand finger movement tasks of different complexity (simple finger tapping-FT, simple finger sequence-SFS, and complex finger sequence-CFS). We focused our observations on three cortical regions of interest (ROIs), namely the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC), the contralateral premotor cortex (PMC) and the contralateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). We estimated the effective connectivity between these ROIs using conditional Granger causality (GC) analysis determined from the time series signals measured by fMRI (blood oxygenation level-dependent-BOLD), fNIRS (oxygenated-O2Hb and deoxygenated-HHb hemoglobin), and EEG (scalp and source level analysis) neuroimaging modalities. The effective connectivity analysis showed significant bi-directional information flow between the SMC, PMC, and DLPFC as determined by the EEG (scalp and source), fMRI (BOLD) and fNIRS (O2Hb and HHb) modalities for all three motor tasks. However the source level EEG GC values were significantly greater than the other modalities. In addition, only the source level EEG showed a significantly greater forward than backward information flow between the ROIs. This simultaneous fMRI, fNIRS and EEG study has shown through independent GC analysis of the respective time series that a bi-directional effective connectivity occurs within a cortico-cortical sensorimotor network (SMC, PMC and DLPFC) during finger movement tasks.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-08-2005
Abstract: Estimates of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in young people are typically based on body mass index (BMI). However, BMI may not indicate the level of central adiposity. Waist circumference has therefore been recommended to identify young people at risk of morbidity associated with central adiposity. To investigate (a) change in total and central adiposity between 7-8 and 12-13 y (b) agreement between classifying young people as overweight or obese based on total adiposity and central adiposity, and (c) risk factors associated with the development of total and central adiposity. Anthropometric measurements were taken on 342 children in 1996/97 and 5 y later. Risk factors examined included birth weight, physical activity, TV viewing, pubertal status, parental adiposity, diet and socio-economic status. Between 7-8 and 12-13 y indices of central adiposity increased more than total adiposity waist circumference z-score increased by (mean+/-s.d.) 0.74+/-0.92 and BMI z-score increased by 0.18+/-0.67. At 12-13 y there was moderate agreement between the two measures of adiposity (weighted kappa=0.64). However, waist circumference identified a greater number of young people as overweight or obese compared to BMI (41.2 vs 29.3%, P<0.001). Adiposity status at 7-8 y, maternal obesity, and pubertal stage were the strongest predictors of BMI status at 12-13 y. Risk factors associated with increased central adiposity were similar. Overweight and obesity, as measured by waist circumference, is a bigger problem than is currently assessed by BMI. Targeting known risk factors for total adiposity may be an appropriate strategy for preventing increased central adiposity.
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 2013
Abstract: To determine the association among dietary salt, fluid, and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and weight status in a nationally representative s le of Australian children aged 2 to 16 years. Cross-sectional data from the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Consumption of dietary salt, fluid, and SSB was determined via two 24-hour dietary recalls. BMI was calculated from recorded height and weight. Regression analysis was used to assess the association between salt, fluid, SSB consumption, and weight status. Of the 4283 participants, 62% reported consuming SSBs. Older children and those of lower socioeconomic status (SES) were more likely to consume SSBs (both Ps & .001). Dietary salt intake was positively associated with fluid consumption (r = 0.42, P & .001) each additional 1 g/d of salt was associated with a 46 g/d greater intake of fluid, adjusted for age, gender, BMI, and SES (P & .001). In those consuming SSBs (n = 2571), salt intake was positively associated with SSB consumption (r = 0.35, P & .001) each additional 1 g/d of salt was associated with a 17 g/d greater intake of SSB, adjusted for age, gender, SES, and energy (P & .001). Participants who consumed more than 1 serving (≥250 g) of SSB were 26% more likely to be overweight/obese (odds ratio: 1.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–1.53). Dietary salt intake predicted total fluid consumption and SSB consumption within consumers of SSBs. Furthermore, SSB consumption was associated with obesity risk. In addition to the known benefits of lowering blood pressure, salt reduction strategies may be useful in childhood obesity prevention efforts.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-01-2012
Abstract: Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) have previously shown that dietary patterns are observable by 3 years. However, it is not clear when dietary patterns emerge. We aimed to describe dietary patterns in early life and their associations with maternal and infant sociodemographic characteristics. Principal component analysis was applied to diet questionnaires of ALSPAC participants at 6 months (n = 7052) and 15 months (n = 5610) to extract dietary patterns. The sociodemographic factors associated with dietary patterns were investigated using regression analyses. Four dietary patterns were extracted at both 6 and 15 months. A traditional-style pattern characterized by home-prepared meats, vegetables and desserts, a second pattern characterized by ready-prepared baby foods and a third pattern characterized by discretionary foods such as biscuits, sweets and crisps were identified at both ages. At 6 months, the fourth pattern was characterized predominantly by breastfeeding and at 15 months, by contemporary-style foods including herbs, legumes, nuts, raw fruit and vegetables. Higher maternal age and education, number of siblings and lower body mass index (BMI) was associated with higher scores on the breastfeeding or meat, vegetables and desserts patterns, whereas higher discretionary food pattern scores were associated with younger maternal age, lower education, higher BMI and more siblings. Associations between sociodemographic factors and the ready-prepared baby food pattern scores were inconsistent across ages. Dietary patterns emerge from infancy and are associated with sociodemographic characteristics.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 25-02-2019
DOI: 10.2196/12234
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 15-09-2016
DOI: 10.2196/JMIR.5691
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.APPET.2018.10.008
Abstract: Current understanding of the impact of maternal feeding practices on weight outcomes in young children remains unclear given equivocal longitudinal study outcomes. To determine whether feeding practices used by mothers when their child was less than 2 years of age were related to overweight status at ages 3.5 and 5 years in a large cross-country s le and investigate whether these associations were moderated by weight status in early life. Data from mother-child dyads participating in four childhood obesity prevention trials across Australia and New Zealand were pooled (n = 723). Each trial administered items from the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) to mothers when infants were approximately 20 months of age, measuring food as a reward, modelling, restriction for health, pressure to eat, and emotion regulation. Poisson regression was used to determine risk ratios (RR) for overweight (BMI z-score ≥85th percentile) at 3.5 and 5 years by CFPQ scores. Greater use of emotion regulation at 20 months of age predicted higher risk for overweight at 3.5 and 5 years (RR = 1.19 and 1.28, respectively), while restriction for health predicted lower risk for overweight at 5 years (RR = 0.88). Child's weight status at 20 months moderated the association between pressure to eat and overweight risk at 5 years, such that those who were not overweight at 20 months of age had reduced risk of overweight associated with the use of pressure to eat (RR = 0.68) but those who were overweight had an increased risk (RR = 1.09). Early maternal feeding practices are related to a child's later risk of overweight.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2014
Abstract: Telephone-based interventions can be effective in increasing child fruit and vegetable intake in the short term (<6 mo). The long-term efficacy of such interventions, however, is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the short-term (<6 mo) impact of a telephone-based intervention on children's fruit and vegetable intake was sustained over a longer term. A secondary aim of the study was to assess the long-term impact of the intervention on the intake of foods high in fat, salt, or sugar (noncore foods). The study used a cluster randomized controlled trial design. Parents were recruited from Australian preschools between February and August 2010 and allocated to receive an intervention consisting of print materials and 4 telephone-counseling calls delivered over 1 mo or to a print information-only control group. The primary endpoint for the trial was the 18-mo postbaseline follow-up. Linear regression models were used to assess between-group differences in child consumption of fruit and vegetables and noncore foods by subscales of the Children's Dietary Questionnaire. Fruit and vegetable subscale scores were significantly higher, indicating greater child fruit and vegetable intake, among children in the intervention group at the 12-mo (16.77 compared with 14.89 P < 0.01) but not the 18-mo (15.98 compared with 16.82 P = 0.14) follow-up. There were no significant differences between groups at either of the follow-up periods in the noncore food subscale score. Further research to identify effective maintenance strategies is required to maximize the benefits of telephone-based interventions on child diet.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-06-2019
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2010
DOI: 10.3109/17477161003777425
Abstract: This cross-sectional study aimed to describe parents' views regarding self-efficacy to influence children's eating and sedentary behaviours at two time points in early childhood, and to examine associations between these views and children's eating and sedentary behaviours. Mothers of 1-year (n=60) and 5-year-old children (n=80) were recruited through Maternal and Child Health Centres and kindergartens in Victoria, Australia. Mothers reported children's dietary intake, television viewing and perceptions of their self-efficacy regarding children's eating and sedentary behaviours. Overall, 5-year-old children consumed significantly more energy-dense food and drink and spent significantly more time viewing TV/DVD and video. Mothers of 1-year-olds were significantly more likely to report they felt confident to limit child's consumption of non-core foods/drinks, and to limit screen access (p<0.001). Measures of maternal self-efficacy were directly associated with 5-year-old children's water (p<0.05), and fruit and vegetable consumption (p<0.005), and with 1-year-old children's vegetable consumption (p<0.05), and were inversely associated with cordial and cake consumption (p<0.05). Maternal self-efficacy to limit viewing time was inversely associated with screen-time exposure in both age groups (p<0.01). This study suggests that mother's self-efficacy regarding limiting non-core foods/drinks and limiting screen-time exposures may decline during the first few years of a child's life. Higher maternal self-efficacy was associated with children having more obesity protective eating and sedentary behaviours at both ages. Interventions to support the development of healthy lifestyle behaviours may be most effective if they target mothers' self-efficacy in these domains early in their child's life.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-02-2022
DOI: 10.1111/MCN.13316
Abstract: Food fussiness is associated with non‐responsive parent feeding practices, such as persuasive and instrumental feeding. Although most children described as ‘fussy eaters’ are likely exhibiting developmentally typical behaviours, up to half of the parents of children 2–5 years old express concerns. Concern for fussy eating may mediate the use of non‐responsive feeding practices and so must be addressed in parent feeding interventions. Therefore, it is critical to better understand parents' concerns and how they may relate to feeding practices. This study aimed to explore how parents' feeding practices and the social cognitive factors that may drive them clustered based on parents' concern for fussy eating. Data were collected from parent discussions of fussy eating on a Reddit forum (80,366 posts). Latent Dirichlet allocation was used to identify discussions of fussy eating. Relevant posts (1542) made by users who identified as a parent of a fussy eater ( n = 630) underwent qualitative coding and thematic analysis. Five clusters of parents were identified, ranging in size from 53 to 189 users. These were primarily characterised by parents' degree of concern and feeding practices: (1) High concern, nonresponsive (2) Concerned, nonresponsive (3) Low concern, responsive (4) Low concern, mixed strategies (5) Low concern, indulgent. Parents who used responsive practices tended to be less concerned for fussy eating, have greater trust in their child's ability to self‐regulate hunger, have longer‐term feeding goals, and exhibit greater ability for personal self‐regulation. Future research should further examine how these constructs may be leveraged in parent feeding interventions.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 17-11-2016
DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515004286
Abstract: Fe deficiency remains the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide and young children are at particular risk. Preventative food-based strategies require knowledge of current intakes, sources of Fe, and factors associated with low Fe intakes yet few data are available for Australian children under 2 years. This study’s objectives were to determine intakes and food sources of Fe for Australian infants and toddlers and identify non-dietary factors associated with Fe intake. Dietary, anthropometric and socio-demographic data from the Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial Program were analysed for 485 infants (mean age: 9·1 ( sd 1·2) months) and 423 toddlers (mean age: 19·6 ( sd 2·6) months) and their mothers. Dietary intakes were assessed via 24-h recalls over 3 non-consecutive days. Prevalence of inadequate Fe intake was estimated using the full probability approach. Associations between potential non-dietary predictors (sex, breast-feeding status, age when introduced to solid foods, maternal age, maternal education, maternal employment status and mother’s country of birth) and Fe intakes were assessed using linear regression. Mean Fe intakes were 9·1 ( sd 4·3) mg/d for infants and 6·6 ( sd 2·4) mg/d for toddlers. Our results showed that 32·6 % of infants and 18·6 % of toddlers had inadequate Fe intake. Main food sources of Fe were Fe-fortified infant formula and cereals for infants and toddlers, respectively. Female sex and current breast-feeding were negatively associated with infant Fe intakes. Introduction to solid foods at or later than 6 months was negatively associated with Fe intake in toddlers. These data may facilitate food-based interventions to improve Australian children’s Fe intake levels.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-05-2019
Abstract: Knowledge of the impact of health messages as an intervention strategy is sparse. The aim of this study was to explore recall and use of health behaviour messages among mothers, and whether recall is associated with child health behaviours. Intervention group data from the 15 months Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) were used (n = 127, children 4 months at commencement). Mothers recalled (unprompted then prompted) at 2 and 3.5 years post-intervention six key messages used in the program, and reported whether they had used them. Children’s food intake was measured by three days of 24-h recall physical activity by accelerometers and television viewing by parent report. Unprompted recall ranged between 1–56% across messages and follow-up points, and 37–90% for prompted recall. The most commonly recalled messages “tap into water”, “parents provide, kids decide” and “color every meal with fruit and veg” were also most commonly used. There were few associations between recall and children’s health behaviours. Given the association between recall and reported use, it is important to plan messages so they resonate well with the target group and its needs. Messages should be used as one of multiple strategies within health promotion programs.
Publisher: The Sax Institute
Date: 03-2019
DOI: 10.17061/PHRP2911904
Abstract: Early childhood provides an opportunity to support parents to promote a range of healthy behaviours at a time of high engagement with family-focused health services. The Infant Program is believed to be the first of its kind to address healthy behaviours and obesity risk in the first year of life using a universally delivered service. The program is an efficacious, low-cost intervention, and many lessons have been learnt across the journey from a randomised controlled trial to small-scale community implementation. The evolution of the Infant Program highlights the value of applying a translational research process to best position interventions to be implemented at scale. It also illustrates the benefits that a sequential approach, a receptive environment and system-level support provide when seeking to integrate new interventions into routine health service delivery. Understanding these processes and factors leads to a better appreciation of the role each step plays in implementing population health interventions at scale.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 23-06-2011
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980011001170
Abstract: To examine the potential efficacy of a brief telephone-based parental intervention in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children aged 3–5 years and to examine the feasibility of intervention delivery and acceptability to parents. A pre–post study design with no comparison group. Telephone surveys were conducted approximately 1 week before and following intervention delivery. Participants were recruited through pre-schools in the Hunter region, New South Wales, Australia. Thirty-four parents of 3–5-year-olds received four 30-min interventional telephone calls over 4 weeks administered by trained telephone interviewers. The scripted support calls focused on fruit and vegetable availability and accessibility within the home, parental role modelling of fruit and vegetable consumption and on implementing supportive family eating routines. Following the intervention, the frequency and variety of fruit and vegetable consumption increased ( P = 0·027), as measured by a subscale of the children's dietary questionnaire. The intervention was feasible to be delivered to parents, as all participants who started the intervention completed all four calls, and all aspects of the interventional calls, including the number, length, content, format and relevance, were considered acceptable by more than 90 % of parents. A brief telephone-based parental intervention to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption in pre-school-aged children may be effective, feasible and acceptable. Further investigation is warranted in a randomised controlled trial.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-07-2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-07-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.YPMED.2007.11.011
Abstract: To examine associations between availability of different types of food outlets and children's fruit and vegetable intake. Parents of 340 5-6 and 461 10-12 year-old Australian children reported how frequently their child ate 14 fruits and 13 vegetables in the last week in 2002/3. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to determine the availability of the following types of food outlets near home: greengrocers supermarkets convenience stores fast food outlets restaurants, cafés and takeaway outlets. Logistic regression analyses examined the likelihood of consuming fruit >or=2 times/day and vegetables >or=3 times/day, according to access to food outlets. Overall, 62.5% of children ate fruit >or=2 times/day and 46.4% ate vegetables >or=3 times/day. The more fast food outlets (OR=0.82, 95%CI=0.67-0.99) and convenience stores (OR=0.84, 95%CI=0.73-0.98) close to home, the lower the likelihood of consuming fruit >or=2 times/day. There was also an inverse association between density of convenience stores and the likelihood of consuming vegetables >or=3 times/day (OR=0.84, 95%CI=0.74-0.95). The likelihood of consuming vegetables >or=3 times/day was greater the farther children lived from a supermarket (OR=1.27, 95%CI=1.07-1.51) or a fast food outlet (OR=1.19, 95%CI=1.06-1.35). Availability of fast food outlets and convenience stores close to home may have a negative effect on children's fruit and vegetable intake.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: 09-09-2010
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 18-12-2017
DOI: 10.2196/MHEALTH.8515
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-03-2006
Abstract: We studied the relation between soft drink/cordial (a sweet, flavoured, concentrated syrup that is mixed with water to taste), fruit juice/drink and milk consumption in mid-childhood, and body mass index (BMI) status in early adolescence in a contemporary Australian cohort. In 1996/7, 268 children (136 males) were recruited from western Sydney at baseline (mean+/-s.d.: 7.7+/-0.6 years), and at follow-up 5 years later (13.0+/-0.2 years). Height and weight were measured at both time periods and overweight and obesity defined using the International Obesity TaskForce criteria. Beverage consumption was calculated from a 3-day food record at baseline. Median carbohydrate intake from soft drink/cordial was 10 g higher (P=0.002) per day in children who were overweight/obese at follow-up compared to those who had an acceptable BMI at both baseline and follow-up. Intakes of soft drink/cordial in mid-childhood, but not fruit juice/fruit drink and milk, were associated with excess weight gain in early adolescence.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-03-2014
DOI: 10.1111/J.2047-6310.2014.225.X
Abstract: The Food and Nutrition stream of Australasian Child and Adolescent Obesity Research Network (ACAORN) aims to improve the quality of dietary methodologies and the reporting of dietary intake within Australasian child obesity research (www.acaorn.org.au/streams/nutrition/). With 2012 marking ACAORN's 10th anniversary, this commentary profiles a selection of child obesity nutrition research published over the last decade by Food and Nutrition Stream members. In addition, stream activities have included the development of an online selection guide to assist researchers in their selection of appropriate dietary intake methodologies (www.acaorn.org.au/streams/nutrition/dietary-intake/index.php). The quantity and quality of research to guide effective child obesity prevention and treatment has increased substantially over the last decade. ACAORN provides a successful case study of how research networks can provide a collegial atmosphere to foster and coordinate research efforts in an otherwise competitive environment.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 26-09-2017
Abstract: he first year of life is an important window to initiate healthy infant feeding practices to promote healthy growth. Interventions delivered by mobile phone (mHealth) provide a novel approach for reaching parents however, little is known about the effectiveness of mHealth for child obesity prevention. he objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of an mHealth obesity prevention intervention in terms of reach, acceptability, and impact on key infant feeding outcomes. quasi-experimental study was conducted with an mHealth intervention group (Growing healthy) and a nonrandomized comparison group (Baby’s First Food). The intervention group received access to a free app and website containing information on infant feeding, sleep and settling, and general support for parents with infants aged 0 to 9 months. App-generated notifications directed parents to age-and feeding-specific content within the app. Both groups completed Web-based surveys when infants were less than 3 months old (T1), at 6 months of age (T2), and 9 months of age (T3). Survival analysis was used to examine the duration of any breastfeeding and formula introduction, and cox proportional hazard regression was performed to examine the hazard ratio for ceasing breast feeding between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for a range of child and parental factors was used to compare the exclusive breastfeeding, formula feeding behaviors, and timing of solid introduction between the 2 groups. Mixed effect polynomial regression models were performed to examine the group differences in growth trajectory from birth to T3. total of 909 parents initiated the enrollment process, and a final s le of 645 parents (Growing healthy=301, Baby’s First Food=344) met the eligibility criteria. Most mothers were Australian born and just under half had completed a university education. Retention of participants was high (80.3%, 518/645) in both groups. Most parents (226/260, 86.9%) downloaded and used the app however, usage declined over time. There was a high level of satisfaction with the program, with 86.1% (143/166) reporting that they trusted the information in the app and 84.6% (170/201) claiming that they would recommend it to a friend. However, some technical problems were encountered with just over a quarter of parents reporting that the app failed to work at times. There were no significant differences between groups in any of the target behaviors. Growth trajectories also did not differ between the 2 groups. n mHealth intervention using a smartphone app to promote healthy infant feeding behaviors is a feasible and acceptable mode for delivering obesity prevention intervention to parents however, app usage declined over time. Learnings from this study will be used to further enhance the program so as to improve its potential for changing infant feeding behaviors.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAND.2012.08.024
Abstract: Adolescence is characterized by rapid physical growth and sexual maturation. These changes may alter parents' beliefs about their adolescent's weight status. This study aimed to examine the changes between early and mid-adolescence in: (a) the accuracy of maternal perception regarding her adolescent's weight status, (b) the degree of maternal concern about her adolescent's weight status, and (c) the predictors of maternal misclassification of adolescent overweight as average weight. A secondary analysis of the longitudinal Nepean Study data was conducted. Participants were Australian, free-living 13-year-olds in 2002-2003 (n=347) followed up at age 15 years (n=279) and their mothers. Participants' body mass index (BMI) status (overweight, normal, or underweight) was calculated from measured height and weight. Maternal perceptions and concerns about adolescent's weight status were determined by items adapted from the Child Feeding Questionnaire. Sex-adjusted binary logistic regression models assessed potential predictors of maternal misclassification of adolescent overweight. Data were available on 224 adolescent-mother dyads. Approximately one fourth of mothers misclassified their adolescent's weight status, but this varied across groups (age 13 years [%] age 15 years [%], respectively) underweight (75% 70%), overweight (54% 59%), and normal weight (12% 9%). The endpoint data show that between 13 and 15 years of age, maternal concern regarding their adolescent's weight decreased in all weight-status groups. Predictors of maternal misclassification of adolescent overweight were adolescent BMI z score, recent weight-management practices, weight history, sex, and maternal concern regarding her adolescent's weight. These results reinforce the need for strategies in primary care that are implemented throughout adolescence to improve maternal awareness of childhood overweight.
No related grants have been discovered for Karen Campbell.