Family Eating Research Articles

Comparing eating and mealtime experiences in families of children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dual diagnosis.

Children with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may experience eating difficulties and related health issues later in life. Sharing family meals can help prevent these issues developing, but most studies have looked at families with neurotypical children. Our goal was to learn more about how families of children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and both conditions (autism + attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) experience mealtimes. We developed an online survey asking caregivers about their child's eating, mealtime experience and if they experienced stress. We tested it with nine caregivers and made improvements based on their feedback before recruiting 351 caregivers to complete the main survey. We found that families of children with neurodevelopmental conditions experienced greater food fussiness, emotional undereating, 'problematic' child mealtime behaviours, dietary concerns, higher stress for caregivers and spouses and less frequent conventionally structured mealtimes compared to those without these conditions. Families of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism + attention deficit hyperactivity disorder reported greater appetite, 'problematic' mealtime behaviours and increased stress for caregivers and spouses compared to families of children with autism. Meanwhile, families of children with autism and autism + attention deficit hyperactivity disorder reported less enjoyment of food and less structured mealtimes compared to those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Our findings highlight that families of children with neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly those with autism + attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, have different mealtime experiences and eating behaviours compared to those with neurotypical children. These families may benefit from support at mealtimes. Learning why people do or do not participate in shared family meals will be crucial to developing improved mealtime support in the future.

Turkish Validity and Reliability of Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire

Introduction: Overweight and obesity in childhood is a serious health problem. It causes many health problems; especially cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Family eating behaviors, habits, home eating, and physical activity environment play an important role in shaping children’s behaviors and determining their weight status. Identification of these factors may be effective in the treatment and prevention of weight problems in children. In the literature review, a Turkish scale that could measure these factors could not be reached. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Turkish validity and reliability of the Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire-Revised. Method: The text of scale was translated into Turkish using group translation and back translation methods. Firstly, as a pilot study group, pre-tests and retests were applied to the parents of students from different schools in Adana with a three-week interval. Then, in the main study group, the scale was applied to the parents in schools and parents of children in outpatient clinics. Findings: In the pilot study; Cronbach’s alpha value was 0,787 showing internal consistency, and the r value was calculated as 0,761 (p<0,001) according to the Pearson correlation analysis showing the correlation between the pretest and retest. In the main study, Cronbach’s alpha value was 0,780. The total scores of overweight/obese children were significantly higher than the total scores of normal-weight children. The total score of the scale was able to determine the weight status of the child with 71 % success. Results: According to these validity and reliability values; it can be suggested that the Turkish version of the Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire-Revised can be used in a similar Türkiye population.

Relationship between motivations and dietary behaviours within parent-adolescent dyads: Application of actor-partner interdependence models.

Parents play a substantial role in improving adolescent dietary behaviours. To examine the interdependent relationships between motivations (autonomous and emotional motivation) and dietary behaviours (fruit and vegetable [F/V] and junk food and sugar-sweetened beverage [JF/SSB] intake) within parent-adolescent dyads. This secondary data analysis was conducted on 1522 parent-adolescent dyads using a cross-sectional Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. The ratio of boys to girls among the adolescents was approximately equal, and 74% of the parents were mothers. The adolescents were between 12 and 17 years old, and 85.5% of the parents were between 35 and 59 years old. Parents and adolescents completed an online survey on dietary motivations and behaviours. Actor-partner interdependence models were performed within parent-adolescent dyads. F/V and JF/SSB intake was influenced by parents' or adolescents' autonomous motivation (actor-only pattern), except among adolescents with obesity. A dyadic pattern was found in the relationship between autonomous motivation and F/V and JF/SSB intake, but only among adolescents with normal weight. No relationship was found between F/V and JF/SSB controlled motivation and F/V or JF/SSB intake among adolescents with overweight or obesity. Autonomous motivation had a significant relationship with F/V and JF/SSB intake for both parents and adolescents, but the association varied depending on the adolescents' weight. Personalized programmes that foster autonomous motivation to change dietary behaviours should be provided based on the adolescents' weight status.

Emotional Eating Prevalence and Correlates in Adolescents in the United States.

Background: Adolescent obesity rates continue to rise. A better understanding of who engages in emotional eating, a maladaptive eating style, is needed. Despite emotional eating being a frequent research target, the prevalence of emotional eating in US adolescents is currently unknown. Methods: Nationally representative adolescents (n = 1622, m = 14.48 years, 63.8% non-Hispanic White, 50.6% female) reported eating behaviors in the National Cancer Institute's Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. Frequencies and one-way ANOVAs were conducted to examine the rates of emotional eating across demographic and weight status groups. Correlations between emotional eating and dietary intake were examined. Results: In total, 30% of adolescents engaged in emotional eating. Older adolescents (35% of 17-year-olds), females (39%), non-Hispanic White individuals (32%), and adolescents with obesity (44%) had significantly higher rates of emotional eating. Controlling for weight status, greater adolescent emotional eating was correlated with more frequent intake of energy-dense/nutrient-poor foods (β = 0.10, p < 0.001), junk food (β = 0.12, p < 0.001), and convenience foods (β = 0.13, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study fills a critical gap by providing insight into how common adolescent emotional eating is and highlighting demographic factors that are associated with higher rates. Nearly a third of adolescents in the United States reported eating due to anxiety or sadness, with rates higher in older adolescents, girls, non-Hispanic White adolescents, and adolescents with obesity. Emotional eating was associated with consuming less healthy foods, which conveys immediate and long-term health risks. Practitioners can intervene with emotional eating to reduce obesity and comorbid health risks.

The bidirectional connection between family functioning and psychopathology: A network analysis in a large sample of adolescents with anorexia nervosa and their parents.

Family functioning is a risk and maintaining factor for anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aims to identify specific areas of family functioning according to adolescents and parental perspectives associated with eating and general psychological symptoms in people with AN. Four-hundred-forty-five adolescents with AN or atypical AN and their parents were enrolled. Adolescents completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-3, the Youth Self-Report questionnaire, and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Their parents filled in the FAD. A network analysis was conducted including all subscales. The bridge function analysis was applied to identify the bridge nodes connecting each community constituted of family functioning perception with the communities of adolescents' eating and general psychological symptoms. Family communication was the node most strongly connecting fathers and mothers' perception of family functioning and adolescents' eating symptoms. Problem solving was the node with the highest bridge expected influence between mothers' family functioning and adolescents' general psychopathology. General functioning and problem solving were the bridge nodes between adolescents' view of family functioning and eating and general psychopathology. Maturity fear, interpersonal insecurity, and interpersonal alienation were the bridge nodes between adolescents' eating symptoms and mothers, fathers, and adolescents' family functioning communities respectively. Family members must be involved in the therapeutic process to improve family communication and problem solving diverting their attention toward emotional needs and interpersonal difficulties of adolescents with AN. Developing autonomy and independence from parents and building trustworthy relationships with peers may be favored by improving familiar dynamics and may contribute to prevent the maintenance of AN.

Interactions of parental feeding characteristics and adolescent emotional eating in relation to unhealthful food and sugar-sweetened beverage intake among adolescents

The purpose of the current study was to examine main and interaction effects of parental feeding characteristics and adolescent emotional eating in relation to adolescents’ unhealthful food and sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Data was used from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study, which is an internet-administered cross-sectional study of adolescent-parent dyads. There were 1573 dyads who completed all study questionnaires. Adolescents completed measures of their emotional eating and dietary intake and parents completed items of parental feeding practices and legitimacy of parental authority. Adolescents with parents who reported higher instrumental feeding, higher limiting and legitimacy of authority, and lower role modeling and stimulus control had greater unhealthful eating and sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Elevated adolescent emotional eating strengthened the positive association between parental instrumental feeding and adolescent unhealthful food and sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Elevated adolescent emotional eating weakened the negative association between parental role modeling and stimulus control and adolescent sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. There was no interaction between parental role modeling and stimulus control and adolescent emotional eating for unhealthful food intake and no interaction between parental limiting and legitimacy of authority and adolescent emotional eating for unhealthful food or sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Given these findings, adolescent obesity and nutrition interventions and preventions should target both parental feeding characteristics and adolescent emotional eating.

Complementary feeding approach and maternal responsiveness in 8- and 12-month-old Italian infants: A longitudinal study

In Western countries, infants are usually introduced to solids through spoon-fed puréed foods (parent-led weaning, PLW). However, an alternative approach known as “baby-led weaning” (BLW), in which infants usually participate in family meals and eat independently, is becoming increasingly popular. We investigated the relationship between the type of complementary feeding approach and maternal responsiveness to infant feeding cues in a longitudinal sample of 178 infants observed at 8 and 12 months. Mothers reported the complementary feeding method used and, from video-recorded meals, we coded the proportion of time infants self-fed and rated maternal responsiveness by means of the Responsiveness to Child Feeding Cues Scale (Hodges et al., 2013). Responsiveness to infant receptiveness and fullness cues were significantly correlated at 8 months, but not at 12 months, when unresponsiveness decreased for receptiveness but remained stable for fullness cues. Thus, as infants got older, mothers were increasingly tuned in to their receptiveness cues. However, we did not observe the same pattern for fullness cues, perhaps because mothers were concerned that their infants did not eat enough. Moreover, at both time points, mothers were more responsive to infants’ receptiveness than fullness cues, possibly due to an evolutionary drive to protect infants from starvation. Finally, responsiveness to fullness, but not responsiveness to receptiveness, was positively related to the proportion of infant self-feeding, but there were no significant differences in responsiveness depending on the self-reported complementary feeding approach. Thus, a weaning style that emphasizes independent feeding, regardless of whether this is labeled as BLW, may promote more infant-centered maternal responses at the end of the meal, with potential implications for promoting infant self-regulation not only at mealtimes, but also in other domains.

The Effect of Food Vouchers and an Educational Intervention on Promoting Healthy Eating in Vulnerable Families: A Pilot Study

Cost has been reported as the main barrier to healthy eating in vulnerable groups. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a nutrition education intervention on adherence to Mediterranean Diet and health when providing food vouchers. This pilot study has a randomized control trial design. We included 66 vulnerable users from the Red Cross of Zaragoza (Spain). Intervention and control group individuals received 120 euros/month of food vouchers over 3 months to be spent in supermarkets (60 euros/month if under 12 y) plus a 10-week nutrition education program for the intervention group. Family food purchases were assessed using electronically recorded supermarket-obtained transactions. During and at the end of the intervention the percentage of healthy food was higher in the intervention than in the control group. Once the nutrition education was over, differences between groups dissipated. In the intervention group, health parameters improved, particularly weight-status, lipids, and liver enzymes. Control participants gained weight, although lipid and liver enzymes improved. Blood pressure and HbA1c did not improve in either the intervention or the control group. In conclusion, providing unrestricted food vouchers to vulnerable groups to increase healthy food consumption appears to be insufficient and should be accompanied by medium-long term nutrition education.

Exploring differences in adolescent BMI and obesity-related behaviors by urban, suburban, and rural status

Data from the nationally representative 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study was examined to identify differences in adolescent Body Mass Index (BMI) and obesity-related behaviors by rurality status (i.e., urban, suburban, rural) while accounting for relevant demographics (i.e., sex, race/ethnicity, household income). This secondary, cross-sectional analysis included 1,353 adolescents. Analyses included descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Chi-squared tests, and multiple linear regression models (reported significance level p < 0.05). Rurality was not associated with BMI when controlling for demographics. However, relative to rural adolescents, suburban adolescents had significantly higher junk food, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), sugary food (all β=+0.2, p ≤ 0.001), and fruit/vegetable intake (β=+0.1, p ≤ 0.05). Compared to Non-Hispanic White adolescents, Non-Hispanic Black adolescents had significantly higher BMI (β=+4.4, p ≤ 0.05), total sedentary time (β=+4.1, p ≤ 0.001), junk food, SSB, and sugary food intake (all β=+0.2, p ≤ 0.05). Relative to their lower-income household counterparts, adolescents from higher-income households had significantly lower BMI (β = -9.7, p ≤ 0.001), junk food (β = -0.2, p ≤ 0.05), and SSB intake (β = -0.5, p ≤ 0.001). Contrary to literature, rurality was not a significant predictor of adolescent BMI. While suburban status was significantly associated with several diet-related risk factors, it was not in the direction anticipated. Being non-Hispanic Black and from a low-income household had the greatest influence on adolescent BMI. Findings highlight the importance of using a three-category classification for rurality.

Parental Support Is Associated with Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity among Chinese Adolescents through the Availability of Physical Activity Resources in the Home Environment and Autonomous Motivation.

This study aimed to use a structural equation model (SEM) to determine the association between parental support and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among Chinese adolescents and whether the availability of physical activity (PA) resources in the home environment and autonomous motivation of adolescents mediated the association. Data were collected using questionnaires extracted from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. A final analytical sample of 3738 adolescents was enrolled. A SEM was performed to evaluate the hypothesized associations. It was found that parental support was not only positively directly but also indirectly associated with MVPA in Chinese boys through the home environment (i.e., availability of PA resources) and the autonomous motivation of adolescents. It is worth noting that the above relationships also exist in Chinese girls, except for the regulatory role of autonomous motivation. These findings suggest that future interventions for increasing adolescents’ MVPA should focus on health education for parents to provide more PA resources in the home environment and adequately mobilize children’s autonomous motivation.

Ernährung und Bewegung im Kleinkindalter

BackgroundA balanced, age-appropriate, sustainable diet, and plenty of physical activity contribute to a healthy development and well-being of young children. An early adaptation of appropriate behavior can positively influence later behavior and thus improve health in the short, medium and long term. The recommendations for action on nutrition and physical activity in young children have been updated and are intended to provide professionals with a reliable basis for counselling of families with young children.MethodsCurrent systematic reviews, meta-analyses, guidelines, and other relevant articles on the topics of nutrition and physical activity in young children (aged 1–3 years), were reviewed by representatives of the professional societies and institutions of the network. They evaluated the scientific evidence and updated the existing recommendations or formulated recommendations for action on some issues for the first time. Sustainability aspects were also taken into account. The process was coordinated by the Healthy Start—Young Family Network.RecommendationsSmall children should have regular mealtimes. They should participate in family meals and eat with other family members as often as possible. Attention to the child’s hunger and satiety signals (responsive feeding) contributes to the development of healthy eating habits. Food should not be used as a reward or punishment. The recommended infant diet includes plenty of plant foods and moderate amounts of animal foods. A vegetarian diet must be carefully matched to the child’s nutritional needs. Young children should be physically active as much as possible, especially outside and in a variety of ways. Parents should support physical activity. Screen devices are not recommended for young children. Parents should provide the child with opportunities for regular rest and sleep. Professionals and families should explore together ways to implement these recommendations in everyday family life.

0155 Agreement between survey and actigraphy-assessed sleep timing among adolescents in the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study

Abstract Introduction Epidemiologists often deploy questionnaires or wearable monitors to quantify sleep. The extent to which self-report and device-derived sleep measures agree among adolescents are not well known. This study describes the agreement between survey and actigraphy-assessed sleep timing among adolescents in the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. Methods FLASHE survey and motion substudy participants provided data for analyses. FLASHE participants (12–17y) completed a survey that captured self-reported usual sleep and wake times on weekdays and weekends. A subset of participants also wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on the wrist for 24-hours for seven days and completed a daily log for time in/out of bed. Actigraphy-assessed sleep periods were estimated using the Sadeh algorithm. Total sleep time (TST) and sleep midpoint for weekday and weekend, social jetlag, and chronotype were computed for survey and actigraphy and means and standard deviations were examined. Paired t-tests were used to test mean differences between measures overall and stratified by sex and school level (middle vs. high school). Results The analytic sample included 372 U.S. adolescents: 49% were female, 53% were high schoolers, 28% had overweight/obesity, and 62% identified as non-Hispanic White. Compared to actigraphy, surveys overestimated TST by an average of 2.6h on weekdays (8.7h [SD:1.4h] vs. 6.1h [SD:1.5h], p&amp;lt;0.001) and 3.1h on weekends (9.5h [SD:1.5h] vs. 6.4h [SD:1.8h], p&amp;lt;0.001), and resulted in earlier weekday sleep midpoints (02:49 [SD:1h:24 min] vs. 03:40 [SD:1h, 42 min], p&amp;lt;0.001); differences were not significant for weekend midpoints. Survey estimates were larger than actigraphy for social jetlag (1.7h [SD:1.2] vs. 0.9h [SD:1.3], p&amp;lt;0.001) and resulted in an earlier chronotype (04:16 [SD:1h, 38min] vs. 04:30 [SD:1hr, 43 min], p=0.004). Findings remained consistent when stratified by sex and school level except for chronotype: estimates were not significantly different among females or high schoolers. Conclusion The large discrepancies between survey and actigraphy-based sleep timing highlight the importance of understanding what type of data each assessment method is capturing in adolescents (self-report vs. objective measures; average vs. daily sleep). Differences between self-report and device-derived sleep data should be considered during study development and when comparing results across studies. Support (If Any)

The Association Between Adolescent Active Commuting to School and Parent Walking Behavior: The FLASHE Study.

To examine the relationship between adolescent active commuting to school (ACS; walking or biking to/from school) and parent walking activity. Cross-sectional. US nationwide online surveys. 1367 parent-adolescent (12-17years) dyads among the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study participants (29.4% response rate). Online surveys asked about adolescent ACS and parent walking activity in the past week. Adolescents who reported ACS at least once in the past week were categorized as engaging in ACS. Parent walking frequency was categorized into 0-2, 3-5, and 6-7days. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to compare the probability of adolescent ACS by parent walking activity, adjusted for sociodemographic factors and adolescent-, parent-, and neighborhood-level covariates. 28.5% of adolescents engaged in ACS at least once in the past week. Compared to 0-2days/week of parent walking activity, ORs for adolescent ACS for 3-5 and 6-7days/week of parent walking activity were 1.98 (95% CI=1.38-2.87) and 1.81 (1.23-2.68), respectively. In stratified analyses by parent and adolescent sex, father-son dyads presented the strongest association between adolescent ACS and parent walking 3-5 and 6-7days/week (ORs=4.17 [1.46-11.91] and 3.95 [1.45-10.77], respectively). Adolescents with parents who engaged in walking activity ≥3days/week were more likely to actively commute to school. Parent walking activity may have positive intergenerational effects on adolescent ACS and physical activity.

Abstract EP16: High Area Level Public Transportation Associated With Increased Body Mass Index In High School And Male Adolescents

Overweight and obesity rates increased dramatically among United States youth from 1999-2016, particularly among adolescents. Promoting physical activity can reduce youth obesity rates, particularly among overweight adolescents, most of whom do not meet guidelines for at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Neighborhood public transportation usage is an important environmental factor that has potential to impact adolescent physical activity. We examined the association between neighborhood public transportation usage and adolescent body mass index (BMI) drawing from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study, a cross-sectional national survey conducted in 2014 that assessed cancer preventative behaviors, including physical activity and diet, among adolescents (aged 12-17 years, n=1,737) and their parents. We used linear regression models to test the moderating effects of age, sex, and socioeconomic status and the mediating effect of physical activity on the association between neighborhood public transportation usage and adolescent BMI. The analytic sample included 357 adolescents of middle school (44%) and high school (56%) ages evenly distributed by sex (51% female) with 39% of the sample below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line. On average, adolescents had a BMI percent of the 95 th percentile of 81.77 (17.09) or 22.24 (4.67) BMI and self-reported 71 daily (out-of-school) moderate-to-vigorous activity minutes. While we found no overall association between neighborhood public transportation usage and BMI, we found that low neighborhood public transportation is associated with increased BMI among high school (14% (95% CI 5.72, 21.41)) and male (7.16 (95% CI -13.41, -0.91)) adolescents respectively. We also found that physical activity does not mediate the effect of neighborhood public transportation usage on adolescent BMI. Our findings suggest that our adult reported public transportation measure could be pointing to neighborhood factors, such as poverty or crime, that affect the association between neighborhood public transit and adolescent BMI. Our findings help inform future research on the dynamic relationships between individual and social environmental factors that impact adolescent physical activity.

International Medical Graduate Resident Wellness: Examining Qualitative Data From J-1 Visa Physician Recipients.

International medical graduates (IMGs), approximately 25% of the U.S. physician workforce, have unique needs as they enter residency programs. This study identified wellness barriers and challenges that IMGs encounter as they transition to the United States. The authors analyzed results from 3 open-ended questions in a 21-item survey. This survey was administered in December 2019 to 11,504 IMG resident physicians sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates' J-1 visa program. These questions asked respondents to describe challenges to their wellness, how they maintain wellness, and resources that would have aided their transition. Data were analyzed using a mixed-methods approach, including both qualitative descriptions and category frequencies. Of the surveys administered, 7,817 responses (68% response rate) were received. Respondents identified challenges navigating cultural differences (1,314, 17%), health care system (1,108, 14%), distance from family and friends (890, 11%), bureaucratic barriers (724, 9%), and language/communication and finances (575, 7%; 565, 7%, respectively). They also specified that friendships/relationships (2,800, 36%) followed by exercise (2,318, 30%), family (1,822, 23%), socialization (1,001, 13%), and healthy eating (775, 10%) were factors important to their wellness. Respondents requested more information about socialization (741, 9%), bureaucratic support (456, 6%), IMG support networks (427, 5%), financial support (404, 5%), and greater online resources (240, 3%). IMGs have needs and concerns specific to their demographic group. Participants' responses suggested that they wanted additional support in the workplace and their personal lives. Answers also indicated that IMGs experienced a unique set of stressors such as fluctuating immigration laws that U.S. medical graduates do not face. Finally, this study supports a body of research that connects social and physical wellness. By identifying and describing these challenges, the authors seek to inform the development of specific programs and resources to improve IMG resident wellness.

Adolescents\u2019 proxy reports on obesity-related parenting practices: factorial validity and reliability across four behavioral domains

BackgroundAdolescents’ energy balance behaviors are precursors to obesity shaped by the practices or strategies that many parents implement. Although key stakeholders to their families, adolescents are rarely considered to report on these obesity-related parenting practices. The aim of this study is to assess the factorial and predictive validity of adolescents’ proxy-report of parents’ obesity-related parenting across four behavioral domains.MethodsThis study used data from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. This study tests whether adolescents’ proxy reports about their parents’ obesity-related parenting are significantly associated with parents’ responses on their own obesity-related parenting, as well as whether these reports are significantly associated to parent-adolescent energy balance behaviors. Factorial validity was assessed using linear regression and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), whereas predictive validity was assessed using Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM).ResultsRegression results indicated that adolescents’ proxy report is significantly associated with parents’ report of their own parenting in all four domains (β = .59—.71; p < 0.05). CFA results indicated a final factor structure that loaded significantly onto hypothesized obesity-related parenting domains (β > .30) in both adolescents and parents. APIM results indicated that both parent- (β = .32; p < 0.05) and adolescent-(β = .21; p < 0.05) reported obesity parenting for fruit and vegetable consumption were associated with their own fruit and vegetable intake. In addition, adolescent-reported physical activity parenting was significantly associated with adolescent physical activity (β = 0.23; p < 0.05). Regarding partner effects, only parent-reported parenting for fruit and vegetable consumption were significantly associated with adolescent intake of fruit and vegetables (β = 0.15, p < 0.05) and adolescent-reported physical activity parenting was significantly associated with parental physical activity (β = 0.16, p < 0.05). Neither adolescent nor parent reported parenting were significantly associated with screen time or junk food intake outcomes. Each final obesity-related parenting scale had good internal consistency (a = .74-.85).ConclusionsWe found that adolescent- and parent-reported obesity-related parenting were significantly associated, while adolescent-reported parenting were more explanatory of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity than parent-reported parenting. These findings suggest that adolescent proxy reports may be a valid source of information on obesity-related parenting.

Associations Between Parents' Health and Social Control Behaviors and Their Adolescent's Self-Efficacy and Health Behaviors: Insights From the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) survey.

Parents can influence their children to live healthier lifestyles by modeling healthy behaviors and/or trying to persuade their children to engage in healthier activities. Adolescents and their parents tend to have similar eating and exercise patterns, but less is known about the simultaneous influence of parent's health behavior and social control on adolescents' self-efficacy and health behaviors, including whether their effect is moderated by parenting style. We examine the degree to which parents' social control and health behaviors are associated with their adolescent's self-efficacy and health behaviors, including whether parenting styles moderate these associations. We analyzed data from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating project. We found that parents' own health behaviors are positively and strongly associated with their adolescent's health behaviors across four domains: fruit/vegetable consumption, junk food consumption, physical activity, and nonacademic screen time. We found positive, moderate-to-strong associations between parents' use of social control and their adolescents' fruit/vegetable and junk food consumption, small negative associations with screen time, and no associations with physical activity. The effects of social control for junk food consumption and screen time, however, depended on parents' own behavior in those domains. Parent responsiveness moderated the relation between parents' social control and their adolescent children's self-efficacy and health behaviors. The health behaviors parents model and their social control efforts are associated with their adolescents' beliefs and behavior. Efforts to leverage parents as sources of influence must consider the context in which influence is enacted.

A naturalistic observational study on food interactions and indicators of healthy and unhealthy eating in White-European and Latinx families

This study examined the relationships between self-reported and behavioral authoritative parenting practices and indicators of healthy and unhealthy eating in a sample of 29 families with a child 3–5 years of age (14 Latinx families, 15 White-European families). This study used self-report measures and an innovative audio recording device to track caregiver-child interactions in natural environments. Main findings of this study include that Latinx caregivers compared to White-European caregivers were less warm and less likely to encourage their children to eat, both at the behavioral level and the caregiver-report level. In the case of Latinx caregivers only, behavioral praise and warmth were related to lower consumption of sweets and sweetened beverages. Taken together, the findings of this study offer valuable insights into the nature of authoritative food parenting in naturalistic settings. Findings and implications for culturally relevant interventions are discussed.

Modeling Parental Influence on Food Consumption among Chinese Adolescents through Self-Efficacy: A Path Analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the associations between perceived parental control, perceived parental modeling and parent–teen co-decision making, and fruit and vegetable (F&V) and sugar-sweetened beverage and junk food (S&J) consumption among Chinese adolescents, and examine whether self-efficacy mediates the associations. Data were collected in a cross-sectional survey of Chinese adolescents carried out in the fall of 2019. The questionnaires were adapted from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) Study. Ordinary least-squares regressions and a path analysis were performed to evaluate the hypothesized associations. The final sample included 3595 Chinese adolescents (mean (SD) age, 14.67 (1.73) years; 52.82% (n = 1899) males). Perceived parental control was positively associated with adolescents’ F&V consumption, and was negatively associated with adolescents’ S&J consumption. Perceived parental modeling and parent–teen co-decision making were both positively associated with adolescents’ F&V consumption and negatively associated with their S&J consumption. Adolescents’ self-efficacy was positively associated with F&V consumption and negatively associated with S&J consumption. These results suggest that serving as a positive role model, having adolescents participate in the decision-making process, and increasing adolescents’ self-efficacy can be feasible and efficacious strategies to improve the nutritional quality of Chinese adolescents’ diets.

The Associations Between Access to Recreational Facilities and Adherence to the American Heart Association's Physical Activity Guidelines in US Adults.

Physical activity decreases the risk of long-term health consequences including cardiac diseases. According to the American Health Association (AHA), adults should perform at least 75 min of vigorous physical activity (PA) or 150 min of moderate PA per week to impact long-term health. Results of previous studies are varied and have yet to integrate perceived access to facilities with AHA PA guidelines. We investigated whether access to free or low-cost recreational facilities was associated with meeting the AHA PA guidelines.Methodology: This cross-sectional study utilized data extracted from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) database collected in 2017 (n = 1,750). The main exposure variable was access to free or low-cost recreational facilities. The main outcome variable was meeting the AHA guidelines of 150 min moderate PA or 75 min vigorous PA per week. Covariates included age, sex, level of education, overall health, BMI, ethnicity, hours of work per week, income, and time living at current address. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis were used to calculate measures of odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: Of the 1,750 included participants, 61.7% (n = 1,079) reported to have access to recreational facilities. Of those with access to facilities, 69.9% met AHA PA guidelines while 30.4% did not. After adjusting for covariates, participants who reported access to recreational facilities were 42% more likely to meet AHA PA guidelines compared with participants who did not (adjusted OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.14–1.76). Secondary results suggest that healthier individuals were more likely to have met AHA PA guidelines.Conclusions: Having access to free or low-cost recreational facilities such as parks, walking trails, bike paths and courts was associated with meeting the AHA PA guidelines. Increasing prevalence and awareness of neighborhood recreational facilities could assist in access to these facilities and increase the ability of individuals to meet AHA PA guidelines. Future research should determine which types of recreational facilities impact physical activity strongest and discover methods of increasing their awareness.