Abstract
BackgroundThe first aim of the present study was to investigate differences in correlates of vegetable intake between the normal weight and the overweight boys in the Pro Children Cross Sectional Study. The second aim was to explore whether the association between vegetable intake and potential correlates is different in overweight boys compared with normal weight boys.MethodsRandom samples of mainly 11-year old children were recruited in 9 European countries. The total sample size consisted of 3960 boys (16.5% overweight). A validated self-report questionnaire was used to measure vegetable intake, and personal, social and environmental factors related to vegetable intake in the classroom. Weight and height were reported by the parents of the children in parents' questionnaires.ResultsRegression analyses explained 23% to 28% of the variance in vegetable intake by potential correlates. Liking, self-efficacy and bringing vegetables to school were related to intake in both normal weight and overweight boys (β's>0.10). Active parental encouragement and availability at home was only related to intake in overweight boys (β's>0.10), whereas knowledge about recommendations was only related to vegetable consumption in normal weight boys (β>0.10)ConclusionIntervention strategies to increase vegetable intake should focus on increase in liking and preferences, increase in self-efficacy, and increase in bringing vegetables to school in both normal weight and overweight boys. Further research should investigate whether advising parents of overweight boys to encourage their child to eat vegetables every day, to insist as far as possible that their child eats vegetables regularly and to make vegetables easily available at home is effective in changing vegetable intake.
Highlights
The first aim of the present study was to investigate differences in correlates of vegetable intake between the normal weight and the overweight boys in the Pro Children Cross Sectional Study
Differences in correlates of vegetable intake between overweight and normal weight boys Overall MANOVA analyses with the psychosocial factors as dependent variables yielded significance (F(15,3452) = 2.89, p < 0.001)
Overweight boys reported less demand from their parents to eat vegetables compared with normal weight boys
Summary
The first aim of the present study was to investigate differences in correlates of vegetable intake between the normal weight and the overweight boys in the Pro Children Cross Sectional Study. The second aim was to explore whether the association between vegetable intake and potential correlates is different in overweight boys compared with normal weight boys. Two reviews were executed recently on the relationship between weight management and fruit and vegetable intake based on epidemiological studies [4] and intervention studies [5]. In adults higher fruit and vegetable intake was associated in most studies with lower BMI. Intervention studies showed that advice to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables was related to weight loss, possibly through enhancing satiety and avoiding feelings of deprivation and hunger. Two epidemiological studies found that higher vegetable intake among boys was associated with lower BMI z-scores. One cross-sectional study found that overweight boys and girls ate less fruit [4]
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