Parental influences on young girls' fruit and vegetable, micronutrient, and fat intakes
Fisher JO, Mitchell DC, Smiciklas-Wright H, Birch LL. (2002) J Am Diet Assoc 102(1) 58-64.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate parents' fruit and vegetable intake and their use of pressure to eat in child feeding as predictors of their 5-year-old daughters' fruit and vegetable, micronutrient, and fat intakes.
SUBJECTS: Data were obtained from 191 non-Hispanic white families with 5-year-old girls.
DESIGN: Parent data included reports of pressure in child feeding and their own fruit and vegetable intake. Girls' intakes of fruits and vegetables, selected micronutrients, and fat were the main outcomes of interest.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Structural equation modeling was used to test a model describing relationships among parents' fruit and vegetable intake, parents' use of pressure in child feeding, and daughters' fruit and vegetable, micronutrient, and fat intakes.
RESULTS: The model provided a good fit to the data, revealing that girls' fruit and vegetable intake was positively related to their parents' reported fruit and vegetable intake. Parents who consumed fewer fruits and vegetables tended to report greater pressure in child feeding and had daughters who consumed fewer fruits and vegetables. Girls' reported fruit and vegetable intakes were positively related to their micronutrient intakes and negatively associated with fat intake.
APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: This research demonstrates that parents' own fruit and vegetable intake may encourage fruit and vegetable intake in their daughters, leading to higher micronutrient intakes and lower dietary fat intakes. Conversely, pressure to eat may discourage fruit and vegetable intake among young girls.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
If parents want their children to eat more fruits and vegetables (and healthier foods in general), then setting a good example is likely to work best, according to this new study.By contrast, putting pressure on children to eat more fruits and vegetables is least likely to succeed - particularly if parents themselves don't follow their own advice.
This study used statistical modelling to investigate potential influences on the food preferences and dietary intakes of 5-year-old girls, having asked their parents to report on their own and their children's diets, and their use of pressure in trying to influence their daughters' eating habits.
Ironically, the findings showed not only that pressuring young children to eat more healthily didn't work - but also that the parents most likely to use these tactics actually reported consuming fewer fruits and vegetables themselves.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the girls who ate more fruits and vegetables also had higher intakes of micronutrients (and lower fat intakes).
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