Increasing fruit and vegetable intake and decreasing fat and sugar intake in families at risk for childhood obesity.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of a parent-focused behavioral intervention on parent and child eating changes and on percentage of overweight changes in families that contain at least one obese parent and a non-obese child.


METHODS
Families with obese parents and non-obese children were randomized to groups in which parents were provided a comprehensive behavioral weight-control program and were encouraged to increase fruit and vegetable intake or decrease intake of high-fat/high-sugar foods. Child materials targeted the same dietary changes as their parents without caloric restriction.


RESULTS
Changes over 1 year showed that treatment influenced targeted parent and child fruit and vegetable intake and high-fat/high-sugar intake, with the Increase Fruit and Vegetable group also decreasing their consumption of high-fat/high-sugar foods. Parents in the increased fruit and vegetable group showed significantly greater decreases in percentage of overweight than parents in the decreased high-fat/high-sugar group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that focusing on increasing intake of healthy foods may be a useful approach for nutritional change in obese parents and their children.
Epstein
L H
LH
Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214-3000, USA. lhenet@acsu.buffalo.edu
Gordy
C C
CC
Raynor
H A
HA
Beddome
M
M
Kilanowski
C K
CK
Paluch
R
R
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014675:Vegetables
D004041:Dietary Fats; D019422:Dietary Sucrose