When adults with diabetes attempt to drink less soda: resulting adult-child interactions and household changes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine adult-child interactions related to soda consumption in families where 1 inner-city African-American or Latino adult with diabetes is attempting lifestyle changes.


METHODS
The study used semistructured individual interviews of adults and a child (age 10-17) in their home. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, coded and analyzed for themes.


RESULTS
We completed 28 interviews (14 adult-child pairs). Most adults in this group reduced or stopped drinking nondiet soda. Some parents included their children in that change by removing nondiet soda from the household and by delivering messages regarding soda to their children. Some children obtained soda outside the home. Sweetened fruit drinks remained in some households even after nondiet soda was removed. Nonetheless, many children reported adjusting to the lack of soda in the household and a lower intake of nondiet soda and sweetened fruit drinks, in contrast to continued high consumption of sweets and fried food.


CONCLUSIONS
These in-depth family interviews suggest that interventions intended to change adult consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may also benefit their children, and this hypothesis merits further investigation in larger studies. A new diabetes diagnosis may motivate adults toward dietary change and provide opportunities to improve overall family health. Healthcare providers should emphasize decreasing availability of soda for everyone in the home.
Laroche
Helena H
HH
Division of General Medicine, Department of internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. helena-laroche@uiowa.edu
Heisler
Michele
M
Forman
Jane
J
Anderson
Michael
M
Davis
Matthew M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D002648:Child; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005190:Family; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States