Peer Effects in the Buffet Line: Is Overeating Contagious?

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether there is an association between home play food availability and dietary preferences in preschool children. Design, Setting and Participants: This study uses a cross-sectional survey design. Mothers of preschoolaged children (n 1⁄4 200), recruited from a local children's consignment event, will complete a questionnaire including demographics, home play food availability and play habits, dietary preferences, parental feeding style, and food neophobia. The survey has previously been pilot tested in a sample of parents of preschoolers (n 1⁄4 15). Outcome Measures and Analysis: MANOVA, t tests, and correlation coefficients are used to describe the relationships between home play food availability, children's food preferences, parental feeding style, food neophobia, and sex and sociodemographic differences among these variables. Basic descriptive statistics will describe parental play food purchase preferences. Results: Pilot data revealed a positive relationship between importance of ‘‘healthfulness’’ to parents and preference for fruit or vegetable play foods (r 1⁄4 0.44; P < .01). A higher but nonsignificant percentage of girls (70%) compared with boys (50%) had play foods at home. Additionally, presence of play fruits and vegetables showed a nonsignificant positive association with number of fruits and vegetables liked (r 1⁄4 0.18; P 1⁄4 .15). The follow-up study is currently in progress. Conclusions and Implications: Pilot results suggest a possible sex difference in home play food availability and a positive relationship between play food availability and food preferences. Results using a larger and more diverse sample will provide a clearer picture of the association of healthful play food availability with preference for healthier foods among preschoolers. Funding: University of Tennessee Intramural Funding.