Fat and cholesterol avoidance among Mexican-American and Anglo preschool children and parents.
Is a fat-avoidance scale a useful tool for monitoring and tracking dietary fat selections of adults and children? Using a seven-point scale, we addressed this question with 341 preschool children and 421 of their parents participating in a longitudinal study of childhood behaviors in San Diego County, California. Milk type and cooking fat reported in the fat-avoidance scale was compared with data reported in a 24-hour food intake record. An overall 86% agreement for milk type and a 78% agreement for cooking fat were noted. Anglo preschoolers (n = 143) had significantly greater mean scores for fat and cholesterol avoidance than did Mexican-American preschoolers (n = 198). Anglo, but not Mexican-American, women avoided fat and cholesterol more often than did their male counterparts. A significantly higher sum score was noted for Anglo men and women and Mexican-American men as education increased. These findings indicate that the fat-avoidance scale has a relative validity compared with a 1-day food record, that fat avoidance can be measured, that differences can be noted in a biethnic sample of children and adults, and that the scale has potential for monitoring success in achieving a lower fat and cholesterol intake.
Frank
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California State University, Long Beach 90840-0501.
Zive
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Nelson
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Broyles
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Nader
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D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003296:Cooking; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats