Abstract MP02: Diet Quality Comparisons In Hispanic/Latino Siblings And The Role Of Social And Environmental Determinants: Results From The Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study Of Latino Youth (SOL Youth)

Abstract

Introduction: Hispanic/Latino youth in the United States are disproportionately burdened by obesity. Siblings are important determinants of each other’s health behaviors, particularly in Hispanic/Latino families whose cultural values are distinctive for stressing close and supportive family relationships. However, no study in Hispanic/Latino youth has examined how overall diet quality correlates between siblings. Objective: To determine how well Hispanic/Latino siblings’ diet quality correlates with each other and whether social and environmental factors explain potential differences. Methods: Hispanic/Latino 8-16-year-olds from the Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth) with at least one sibling enrolled in the study were examined ( n =749). The Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) was calculated from two 24-hour recalls to assess overall diet quality. All analyses used mixed effect models with HEI-2010 score as the outcome. Individual and family-level socio-demographic variables were fixed effects, and family and intercept were random effects. Correlations between siblings’ diet quality were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). All models were examined stratified by age and sex, and the ICCs were compared across groups using Fisher’s z-transformation. Diet-related social and environmental measures were added as fixed effects in a secondary analysis. Results: Overall HEI-2010 score was 53.7. The ICC for siblings’ HEI-2010 score was 0.31, indicating slight correlation. Separate examination of the twelve HEI-2010 components showed that siblings’ intake of empty calories and sodium had the highest correlation (ICC=0.31), while intake of total protein foods had the lowest correlation (ICC=0.13). Siblings who were born <3 years apart (vs. ≥3 years apart) or all male or female (vs. of different sexes) had stronger correlations in overall diet quality (ICC=0.45 vs. 0.21 and 0.39 vs. 0.19, respectively, p<0.05). Individuals who reported greater peer support for fruit and vegetable intake or more frequent use of healthy school vending machines/the school salad bar than their siblings had higher HEI-2010 scores (β=1.79 [95% CI: 0.38, 2.76]) and β=1.57 [95% CI: 0.38, 2.76], respectively). Individuals who reported greater away from home food consumption than their siblings had lower HEI-2010 scores (β=-1.12 [95% CI: -2.06, -0.18]). Frequenting unhealthy school vendors did not explain differences in siblings’ diet quality. Conclusions: Overall diet quality scores of Hispanic/Latino siblings in this study were modestly correlated, with stronger correlations among siblings closer in age and of concordant sex. Differences in peer support and foods consumed outside the home may explain differences in siblings’ diet quality. Future studies should examine additional psychosocial determinants of siblings’ diets.