Family Influence on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Rural, Low-Income, Preschool Children: A Preliminary Investigation of Factors Associated with Obesity

摘要

Children raised in families with low incomes and educational levels are at-risk of food insecurity and inadequate dietary intake, particularly consumption of fruits and vegetables which is often associated with increased risk of obesity. Family Influence on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Rural, Low-Income Preschool Children: A Preliminary Investigation of Factors Associated with Obesity focused on the influence of both mothers and grandmothers on the food intake of young children—a phenomena not extensively found in nutrition literature yet called for at the April, 2008 NIH Conference on Decision Making in Eating Behavior: Integrating Perspectives from the Individual, Family, and Environment Meeting. This project was designed to provide preliminary data regarding similarities and differences in nutrition-related predictors: socio-economic status, food security, access to food outlets, attitudes and behaviors. Resources, feeding practices, and personal dietary habits of 62 rural low-income mothers and grandmothers were determined. Implications for future research and programmatic initiatives are noted. This project also tested instrumentation and data collection methodologies for utility in a future, more extensive, study of intergenerational family factors affecting obesity among the targeted population. A grant proposal was submitted to USDA for funds through the National Research Initiative.