O15 - Difference in Eating Patterns Between Children with Siblings and Without Siblings

Abstract

Background (Background, Rationale, Prior Research, and/or Theory): Children without siblings (singletons) have higher rates of obesity than children with siblings (non-singletons). Early eating patterns predict child obesity, but have not been compared between these groups. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in eating patterns between singleton and non-singleton children. Study Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention: Mothers of singleton children ages 5.0–7.9 years old and mothers of non-singleton children ages 5.0–7.9 years old with a sibling between the ages of 2.0–4.9 years old were recruited. Height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) of the 5.0-7.9-year-old child were objectively measured. Mothers reported child demographic characteristics and completed a three-day food/beverage diary for the child. Outcome Measures and Analysis: Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and BMI and WC percentiles were calculated for age and sex. Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI score) was calculated for each day and averaged. Results: Seventy-two mother-child dyads (28 singletons and 44 non-singletons) participated. On average children were 5.7 ± 0.7 years old, 50% male, and predominantly white (65%). Singletons had a higher BMI percentile (73.7 ± 29.8) and WC percentile (67.2 ± 27.6) compared to non-singletons (53.2 ± 28.5, P = .01; 51.7 ± 24.2, P < .01). Singletons had a significantly lower HEI score (60.0 ± 13.4) compared to non-singletons (67.1 ± 13.4. P < .01). Singletons continued to have a lower HEI score on weekdays by 5.1 points (P = .01) and weekends by 11.1 points (P < .01), independent of age and sex. When comparing constituent factors of the HEI score, singleton children consumed less seafood/plant protein, sodium, and refined grains on weekdays than non-singletons. On weekends, singleton children had lower total vegetables, greens and beans, and seafood/plant protein consumption than non-singletons. Conclusions and Implications: In this sample, singletons had a higher BMI percentile and had lower HEI scores compared to non-singletons. Investigation into differences in singleton/non-singleton families, including family health behaviors, may support understanding of the mechanism. Funding: College of Allied Health Student Research and Creativity Grant, Department of Nutritional Sciences.