Healthy Home Environment Research Articles

Do Child Eating Behaviors Moderate Relationships Between Food Parenting Practices and Child Food Preferences?

A majority of existing cross‐sectional studies examine the relationship between food parenting practices and child weight status, but this has been proposed not to be indicative of obesity risk, and therefore, food preferences may provide a better prediction of what a child may consume, and thus, obesity risk. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between food parenting practices and child fruit, vegetable, and high fat/sugar food preferences and how child eating behavior moderate those relationships. Parents (n=148) of children (3–7 years old) completed the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), the Preschool Adapted Food Liking Scale (PALS), and the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Linear regressions were used to test the study purpose with race, ethnicity, and income as covariates. Child control of eating was negatively associated with a child's preference for fruit (B= −8.16, p=.02) and child involvement was positively related to child preference for vegetables (β = .18, p = .04). Child preference for high fat/sugar foods was positively associated with parental use of food to regulate child emotions (B=10.53, p<.01), food as a reward (B=7.21, p < .001), pressure (B=5.07, p = .04), and restriction of unhealthy food (B=5.82, p = .01), and negatively associated with healthy home environment (B=−5.79, p = .05), modeling (B= −7.67, p = .01), and teaching about nutrition (B = −7.51, p = .01). Interaction models revealed that child food responsiveness moderated the relationships between parental pressure (B=7.32, p=.01) and food as reward (B=5.24, p=.02) and child preference for high fat/sugar foods. Specifically, high child food responsiveness exacerbated the relationship between pressure to eat and food as a reward and child preference for high/fat sugar foods. This study provides evidence that the effect of food parenting practices may be dependent upon child eating behaviors.Support or Funding InformationThis project was funding by Illinois State University College of Applied Science and Technology University Research Grant.

Risk factors for obesity in preschool-aged children in China.

To examine the relationship between child, mother, and environmental factors and increased body mass index in preschool-aged children in China. There are about 120 million children in China are classified as overweight or obese. Understanding the key factors associated with childhood obesity (i.e. child, mother and environment) is the first step in combating the growing obesity epidemic in China, as well as in the global community, where large numbers of Chinese immigrants can be found. A cross-sectional design was used. Each child's weight and height were measured by trained assistants, whereas mothers were asked to complete several questionnaires including family demographic, family eating and activity habit and child feeding practices. Mothers also reported their own as well as the father's height, weight and waist circumference. Linear regression models were used. The overweight and obesity prevalence was 22% for children, 7% for mothers and 82% for fathers. Children spent an average of 1.2h (72min) engaged in physical activities and 0.76h (46min) in sedentary time including TV watching or computer and video games playing per day. Factors associated with a child's higher body mass index included maternal beliefs regarding the child's susceptibility to obesity, their own susceptibility to obesity, a child's more advanced age and more unhealthy food stimulus exposure at home. Because a mother's health behaviours may influence their child's health behaviours and they are a crucial model for the family and children, childhood obesity prevention needs to include mothers and focus on building a healthy home environment for the family. Understanding factors associated with childhood obesity can assist researchers and clinicians to develop culturally sensitive and evidence-based programmes and policy to reduce this global epidemic.

Hispanic Mothers’ Views of the Fathers’ Role in Promoting Healthy Behaviors at Home: Focus Group Findings

BackgroundOverweight and obesity prevention interventions rarely take into account the unique role of fathers in promoting healthy home environments. ObjectiveTo use qualitative methodology to examine the views of Hispanic mothers of children aged 2 to 5 years regarding fathers’ roles in promoting healthy behaviors at home. DesignNine focus groups were conducted in Spanish with Hispanic mothers of preschool-aged children (N=55) from October to December 2015. Participants/settingsHispanic mothers were recruited from churches, community agencies, and preschools located in five Zip codes in the southwest part of Oklahoma City, OK. AnalysisQuestions examined the views of Hispanic mothers regarding fathers’ roles in promoting healthy behaviors at home. Focus groups were audiorecorded, transcribed in Spanish, translated into English, and coded and analyzed for themes by two coders using NVivo version 10 software. ResultsFour themes were identified: fathers’ disagreement with mothers about food preferences and preparation, fathers’ support for child’s healthy eating, fathers’ support for child’s physical activity, and fathers’ lack of support for a healthy home food environment. Fathers’ traditional expectations about the type of foods and portion sizes adults should eat conflicted with mothers’ meal preparations. Mothers reported that, although they favored eating low-calorie meals, the meals fathers preferred eating were high-calorie meals (eg, quesadillas). In general, fathers supported healthy eating and physical activity behaviors for their children. Supportive behaviors for children included preparing healthy meals, using healthier cooking methods, grocery shopping with their children for healthy foods, and asking the child to participate in household chores and/or play sports. Fathers’ unsupportive behaviors included bringing high-calorie foods, such as pizza, and sugary drinks into the home, using sweets and savory foods for emotion regulation, and displaying an indulgent parental feeding style. ConclusionsMothers' views of fathers' perceived roles in child eating and physical activity, and maintaining a healthy eating environment, have important implications for the success of promoting healthy behaviors in the homes of Hispanic families.

Creating healthy nursing home environment via lighting interventions: a theoretical approach.

In the Netherlands long-term care facilities made investments in order to improve the well-being of their residents and to support healthcare professionals in their daily task. Light is one of the technical solutions that might be contribute to support the well-being of older residents in long-term care facilities. This study investigates which possibilities are available to enrich the current situation to support the well-being, activities of daily living, and quality of life of older residents from lighting perspective. The light measurements show that the conditions are low and the value of 750 lux mainly reached on measurements points close to the window area. In this field study the light conditions are improved through a static lighting system. Further research is needed in order to investigate how the new light plan affect the quality of life and to define light guidelines for long-term care facilities.

Individual, behavioural and home environmental factors associated with eating behaviours in young adolescents

This study aimed to examine individual, behavioural and home environmental factors associated with frequency of consumption of fruit, vegetables and energy-dense snacks among adolescents. Adolescents aged 11–12 years (n = 521, 48% boys) completed a paper-based questionnaire during class-time which included a Food Frequency Questionnaire assessing their consumption of fruit, vegetables, and energy-dense (ED) snacks, and items assessing habits, self-efficacy, eating at the television (TV), eating with parents, parenting practices, and home availability and accessibility of foods. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that eating fruit and vegetables while watching TV and home availability and accessibility of fruit and vegetables were positively associated with frequency of fruit consumption and vegetable consumption, while home accessibility of ED snack foods was negatively associated with frequency of fruit consumption. Habit for eating ED snack foods in front the TV, eating ED snack foods while watching TV, and home availability of ED snacks were positively associated with frequency of ED snack consumption. This study has highlighted the importance of a healthy home environment for promoting fruit and vegetable intake in early adolescents and also suggests that, if snacking while TV viewing occurs, this could be a good opportunity for promoting fruit and vegetable intake. These findings are likely to be useful for supporting the development of multi-faceted interventions and aid us in knowing what advice to give to parents to help them to help their young adolescents to develop and maintain healthy eating habits.

Association of Healthy Home Environments and Use of Patient-Centered Medical Homes by Children of Low-Income Families

IntroductionMedicaid agencies have been promoting the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model. Most caregivers choose physician practices for their children, and we hypothesized that those following healthier childrearing practices are more likely to seek care in a PCMH. MethodWe selected children with public insurance plans (n = 20,801) from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children's Health. We used generalized ordinal logistic regression with state fixed effects to assess the association between home environments and children's use of PCMHs. ResultsChildren living in the healthiest homes were 1.33 times (p = .001) more likely to receive care from the highest level of PCMH. In states with early PCMH implementation, the odds increased to 2.11 times (p = .001). DiscussionOur results show a significant, sizeable relationship between healthier home environments and the use of PCMH by children from low-income families. They provide implications for assessing the effect of PCMH use on health outcomes and use patterns.

Inequality in Health for Women, Infants, and Children: An Alarming Public Health Concern.

Inequality in Health for Women, Infants, and Children: An Alarming Public Health Concern.

Creating a healthy home environment for preschool children: A qualitative study of parents’ perceptions of an intervention program

Creating a healthy home environment for preschool children: A qualitative study of parents’ perceptions of an intervention program

Contextual and Cultural Influences on Parental Feeding Practices and Involvement in Child Care Centers among Hispanic Parents.

Parental feeding practices shape children's dietary preferences and behaviors, which can influence a child's weight status. Limited research exists on the precursors and contextual influences of feeding, particularly among Hispanic parents. Therefore, this study explored two areas potentially important for obesity prevention in young children: (1) precursors and contextual influences on parental feeding and (2) parental perceptions and knowledge of the child care food environment. Four focus groups (n=36) were held with Hispanic parents, predominantly mothers, of preschool children at two child care centers. Parents were asked about influences on what and how they feed their children, awareness of the child care center feeding environment, and current involvement in the child care center. Themes were coded using NVivo10 software (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia). Participants' childhood experiences influenced how they feed their children. Parents stated that both husbands and grandparents often indulged their children with unhealthy foods and thought this interfered with their efforts to maintain a healthy home environment. Participants reported that what their children ate while in child care sometimes influenced the home feeding environment. Cultural and environmental factors influence parental feeding and involvement in the child care setting. Consistent with socioecological system theory, exploring interactions between the environment and culture using a family focus framework, such as the Family Ecological Model, could provide a better understanding of these influences among Hispanic parents. Future obesity prevention interventions with Hispanic families should be culturally relevant and target the different environments where children spend their time.

KRITERIA RUMAH ISLAMI

The house is one of the important things that are involved in the formation of a family. Home is where the back of traveling, as well as the most fundamental place in mentarbiyah self and family. Hence the formation of the basic nature of a human being. For that how to meet the home in accordance with the Islamic criteria and create a healthy home environment as well as Islamic is we need to know in order to house the coveted always in a pleasant atmosphere and Islamic for mental development of all family members. For that in choosing or building a home should meet the criteria in accordance with the Islamic criteria . What are the criteria for Islamic home ie : Choosing the right location means adjacent to the place of worship, Choosing the right neighbor, does not boast in building houses, making houses spacious and clean and nice houses and beautiful. So with the fulfillment of an Islamic house criteria we can make it as ameans of rest after working; making it a means of protection when there is danger, rain, heat and cold; making it a compassionate family; making it a means of gathering of relatives, neighbors, and friends; and also makes for a solemn worship of the almighty. Keywords: Criteria, House, Islamic design.

Abstract P371: Healthy Clinics, Healthy Kids - Lifestyle Intervention on Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention in Pediatric Clinical Settings

Childhood obesity should be addressed in multiple sectors, including the health services/clinical setting. While many physicians believe it is their responsibility to help adult patients lose weight, the majority feels they are not equipped to manage weight problems of their patients. Healthy Clinics, Healthy Kids (HCHK) was designed to test the impact of addressing obesity, using a lifestyle approach, among pediatric patients and families in a variety of primary care clinical settings. HCHK interventions took place over a 2-year period (2010-2012) in three states (MI, MS and NM). Lifestyle interventions (nutrition, healthy living, physical activity education/technical assistance), targeted children and caregivers in low-income clinical settings that care for children. The goal was to help clinical staff address obesity issues and concerns of patients and families. Impact of interventions was assessed using pre and post surveys. 21 sites completed pre and post surveys (MI (9), MS (9), and NM (3)). Respondents included nurses (14), managers (2), physicians (2), coordinators (1), and a registered dietitian. Prevalence of obesity among children was higher than the national average (respondents reported that only 56% were “normal”, as compared to approximately 66% nationally). 32% indicated private insurance pays for some obesity care, and 42% indicated public insurance. 44% indicated they discuss weight with parents of “normal” weight children, and about 73% indicated they discuss this with parents of “overweight” children. Statistically significantly (at the p<.05 level) more respondents indicated, at the end of the project than at the beginning, that they discuss “the impact of childhood obesity on their future risk for chronic diseases in adulthood” (70% versus 57%). Statistically significantly more indicated that they discuss this topic with parents at the end (76% versus 57%). There was an increase in discussing obesity with patients, topics including exercise and physical activity (+8.5%) and limiting sedentary behaviors (+5.0%). There was an increase in conversations with parents, topics including healthy food and beverage choices (+4.8%), physical activity (+9.4%), limiting sedentary behaviors (+4.7%), “creating a healthy home environment” (+19.1%), and “removing the TV from the bedroom” (+14.3%) Although at baseline it was not discussed much (22.2%), at follow-up, there was an increase in “encouraging breastfeeding for childhood obesity prevention, if pregnant” (38.1%). Regarding parents, although already a topic with high comfort level at baseline, statistically significantly more respondents indicated at the end of the project that they felt comfortable discussing exercise and physical activity (76.2% versus 90.5% respectively). Overall, HCHK showed that implementation of a nutrition and healthy living program for clinics is feasible and effective.

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Eating Behaviors and Home Food Environmental Factors in Adolescents From São Paulo (Brazil) and Saint Paul–Minneapolis (US)

Describe cross-cultural differences in nutrition-related factors among adolescents from São Paulo, Brazil and St Paul-Minneapolis, US. Two large-population-based studies with cross-cultural comparisons. Twelve São Paulo and 10 St Paul-Minneapolis high schools in 2009-2010. A total of 1,148 adolescents from São Paulo and 1,632 adolescents from St Paul-Minneapolis. Meal consumption, family meals, fast-food consumption, and home food availability. Binomial regressions, weighted for age distributions and adjusted for gender, were used to compare identical measures from each sample. Generally, São Paulo adolescents reported healthier nutritional outcomes than St Paul-Minneapolis adolescents. São Paulo adolescents were 7 times less likely to report high fast-food consumption than St Paul-Minneapolis adolescents (P < .001). Whereas most measures of the home environment indicated healthier home environments in São Paulo, more São Paulo adolescents reported that sugar-sweetened beverages were usually available at home than did St Paul-Minneapolis adolescents (P < .001). São Paulo youth tended to have healthier eating behaviors and home food environment factors than St Paul-Minneapolis youth. Brazilian eating patterns tend to be healthier and support a connection with food and culture. Interventions are needed to encourage youth and their families to maintain these patterns.

The war on ADHD

The war on ADHD

School‐Based Health Promotion Intervention: Parent and School Staff Perspectives

The prevalence of childhood obesity is high, particularly among minority youth. The objective of this article was to evaluate parent and school staff perspectives of childhood health and weight qualitatively to guide the development of a school-based obesity prevention program for minority youth. Hispanic parents (N = 9) of first graders participated in 1 of 3 focus groups, consisting of 3 parents each. School staff (N = 7) participated in 1 focus group. All sessions were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using NVivo, 2 independent coders rated the transcriptions to identify themes and a third coder addressed commonalities and discrepancies in the coding schemes. Parents and school staff have conflicting views over whose responsibility it is to provide nutritional education and participation in physical activity (PA). Parents felt the school should teach children about healthy nutrition, provide guidance in the cafeteria, and offer more structured PA in school. In contrast, school staff noted that parents have the primary responsibility of ensuring children get adequate nutrition and PA. Despite contrasting views, parents and staff agreed with the need for comprehensive school-based obesity prevention efforts emphasizing parent and teacher collaboration to promote healthy school and home environments.

A review of possible health concerns associated with zero net energy homes

The purpose of this paper is to identify potential human health concerns that may arise from the increasing popularity of zero net energy homes (ZNEH) a form of high-performance green building in the US. Since high levels of energy consumption are not sustainable, ZNEH has the potential to reduce the environmental impact without penalty to occupants by providing a healthy home environment at low energy inputs. The premise of this article is that ZNEHs can indeed maintain high levels of health while reducing energy consumption. However, the potential for health impacts must be investigated. In this brief essay, main health questions that might arise in relationship to ZNEHs are reviewed. In addition, potential areas for additional research on zero net energy homes and their effects on human health are identified. This topic remains in its infancy and is a viable area of research that will benefit greatly from additional research.

Composite Measures Quantify Households' Obesogenic Potential and Adolescents' Risk Behaviors

The aims of this study were to generate composite measures quantifying a household's obesogenic potential and to examine the relationship of the composite variables with older children's eating, physical activity (PA), and small screen recreation. Data were from surveys with 1685 child-parent pairs in which the child was in grade 6, 8, or 10 (mean age: 14 years). Composite measures of the obesogenic household environment were generated from 11 measures using nonlinear principal components analysis. Associations between the composite measures and the children's healthy and unhealthy food intake, PA, and screen time were tested (adjusting for demographic characteristics). Two scales were generated: (1) obesogenic control, which clustered together factors that mitigate risk; and (2) obesogenic risk. Higher scores on the control scale were associated with higher adolescent intake of healthy foods, lower intake of unhealthy foods, higher PA, and less screen time. Higher scores on the risk scale were associated with lower adolescent intake of healthy foods, higher intake of unhealthy foods, lower PA, and more screen time. There were significant 2-way interactions between the scales for soft drink consumption and PA. Household obesogenic potential may be quantified as 2 factors reflecting cumulative risk and control practices. These factors have both additive associations with obesogenic behaviors and, in some cases, modify each other, suggesting that a healthy home environment requires attention to both. Health promotion messages could incorporate these 2 different but interacting factors that parents can use to modify the obesogenic potential of their household.

Beyond the Bench: Healthy Home, Healthy Community

We like to think of home as a safe haven, but sometimes this shelter can harbor a wide range of health hazards. Children living in urban, low-income, and minority neighborhoods are often at greater risk of exposure to home-based health hazards than other groups, but implementing affordable, effective methods to alleviate the risk can be challenging. A new interactive museum housed in a residential property in Rochester, New York, now offers children and adults hands-on, real-world examples of hidden hazards in the home along with guidelines on simple preventive measures. For more than two years, the Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC) of the University of Rochester and its community partners, the Southwest Area Neighborhood Association (SWAN) and the Rochester Fatherhood Resource Initiative (RFRI), worked together to develop an easily accessible, community-based program that would promote environmental health in the home. In June 2006 they launched the Rochester Healthy Home museum. Eleanor Coleman, SWAN’s community asset manager, explains, “We have found that community residents respond better to hands-on education than to printed materials.” Katrina Korfmacher, the center’s Community Outreach and Education Core coordinator, adds, “Our role was to bring together the existing resources within the community, develop the technical information for displays, and support the initial setup of the Healthy Home.” Korfmacher says the center and its community partners spent several months locating a residential building that was large enough to accommodate groups of visitors, solving commercial zoning issues, and finding a landlord who was amenable to such a unique project. The Healthy Home is located adjacent to the historic Susan B. Anthony neighborhood in a community with high poverty, a low number of owner-occupants, and one of the highest lead poisoning rates in the city. The neighborhood location is important to SWAN outreach coordinator Shehrina Tabassum, who says, “We wanted it to be accessible to low-income residents who might not be able to travel across town to visit a Healthy Home.” According to a 2002 report by the Center for Governmental Research, 34% of the children living in the SouthWest neighborhood represented by SWAN have blood lead concentrations above the CDC “threshold of concern” of 10 μg/dL. James Richardson, president of a residents’ group called the Lennox Street Block Club, notes that many of the century-old homes in this area have environmental hazards and that nearby residents will benefit from the interactive displays at the Healthy Home. “When it is hands-on, people seem to believe it a little more,” he says. The partners focused on some of the major risks present in many homes—asthma triggers, lead hazards, household chemicals such as pesticides and cleaners, and indoor air quality hazards—to create topical posters and hands-on displays. For example, the “Lead Room” has three display windows that demonstrate different methods for treating painted window frames for lead hazards, including instructions and cost information for lead-safe work practices to minimize the disturbance of lead-based paint. The “Asthma Safe Bedroom” displays pillowcase covers and other asthma trigger reduction tools, and offers tips for avoiding mold growth along with other appropriate housekeeping guidelines. In the kitchen, visitors find displays explaining the risks of exposure to certain common household chemicals as well as tips for safe handling and storage. The Healthy Home also educates visitors about potential causes of injuries such as electrical shock and choking hazards, as well as possible carbon monoxide poisoning risks such as defective furnaces. With emphasis on the idea that creating a healthy home environment is a shared responsibility, the partnership encourages visits from all community stakeholders. In its first six months of operation, the Healthy Home has welcomed more than 400 visitors, including residents, students of all ages, teachers, contractors, property owners, and elected officials, all of whom can apply the lessons learned in the museum to their respective community roles. The Healthy Home hosts outreach activities such as support group meetings (for example, for families of asthmatic children), neighborhood block group meetings, and free safe practices training courses (by the end of 2006, 67 people had received training in a series of lead safety courses). The partnership also conducts community presentations and distributes information at health fairs on the topics covered in the Healthy Home. Admission to the Healthy Home is free, and guided tours are available. In the near future, the partners plan to increase outreach efforts through youth programs, home health visiting nurses, and others. Meanwhile, center staff are evaluating the impact of the Healthy Home on visitors’ knowledge and behaviors, and are writing a guide to help other communities develop similar facilities. For More Information http://www2.envmed.rochester.edu/envmed/ehsc/outreach/CommunityPartners/CommunityPartnersHH.html

Improving Indoor Environmental Quality for Public Health: Impediments and Policy Recommendations

BackgroundPeople in modern societies spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Hence, indoor environmental quality (IEQ) has a significant impact on public health. In this article we describe health risks associated with indoor environments, illuminate barriers to overcoming these risks, and provide policy recommendations to achieve healthier indoor environments.ObjectivesThe weight of evidence suggests that indoor environmental contaminants pose significant public health risks, particularly among children and the poor, and the societal costs of illnesses related to indoor environments are considerable. Despite the evidence of harm to human health, poor indoor environments are generally difficult to regulate and not of sufficient concern to the general public. We discuss several reasons for this lack of concern about IEQ, focusing specifically on home environments.DiscussionEconomics plays a large role both in political inaction and individual-level indifference. Because little effort has been made to quantify the value of the societal and individual costs of poor housing quality, as well as the benefits achievable by simple interventions, policymakers lack motivation to act on IEQ. Similarly, individual homeowners lack the incentive to remediate homes, as other problems may be more pressing than home environmental quality.ConclusionsAlthough the problem of IEQ involves multiple stakeholders and multiple levels of governance, it is possible to establish economic incentives that would set the wheels in motion for action at all levels to achieve healthy home environments. Also important are education and information dissemination on the public health risks associated with indoor environments. These recommendations are intended for all decision makers who have an influence in developing policy to improve indoor environmental quality.

Is parenting style related to children's healthy eating and physical activity in Latino families?

Parenting styles influence a child's risk for obesity. The goals of this study are to evaluate the influence of (i) parenting style on children's health behaviors (physical activity and dietary intake), (ii) children's sociodemographic characteristics on parenting style and on children's health behaviors and (iii) parents' sociodemographic characteristics on their use of controlling styles to promote a healthy home environment. Survey and anthropometric data were collected from a community sample of Latino parents (n = 812) and their children in kindergarten through second grade. Parental use of positive reinforcement and monitoring was associated with children's healthy eating and exercise. Also, parents' use of appropriate disciplining styles was associated with healthier eating, while parental use of control styles was associated with unhealthy eating. The daughters of parents who used controlling styles ate more unhealthy foods than did the sons. Older, employed and more acculturated parents used less controlling styles than their counterparts. Parenting interventions targeting children's dietary intake and physical activity should encourage parents to use more positive reinforcement and monitor their children's health behaviors as these parenting styles are associated with healthier behaviors. Moreover, intervention researchers may want to encourage Latino parents to use less controlling styles with girls as this parenting style increased girls' risk for unhealthy eating.

Knowledge of the Effects of Indoor Air Quality on Health Among Women in Jordan

To assess the extent of knowledge about symptoms relating to respiratory illnesses and home environments among a random sample of 200 urban Jordanian women. This customized, validated, cross-sectional questionnaire evaluated the knowledge of these women about the association between the indoor environment and health, the presence or absence of indoor discomforts, symptoms of respiratory illnesses, and behaviors related to the home environment such as cleaning practices. Results showed an alarming rate of smoking in the homes; the extent of knowledge was moderate but higher among those exhibiting symptoms and those with children. Cleaning practices associated with healthy home environments were reported at a high rate but seemed to be based on cultural influences. This type of information is crucial to the formation of health education programs and policy recommendations for pollutant source and exposure reductions in homes in the Middle East and other developing countries.