Longitudinal examination of the family food environment and weight status among children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether aspects of the family food environment were associated with body mass index (BMI) z-score and weight status in children, cross-sectionally and prospectively over 3 years.


METHODS
Four aspects of the family food environment (breakfast eating patterns, food consumption while watching television, parental provision of energy-dense foods and child consumption of energy-dense food at home and away from home) were assessed with a questionnaire completed by parents of 161 children aged 5-6 years and 132 children aged 10-12 years in Melbourne, Australia in 2002/03. In 2002/03 and 2006, children's BMI z-score and weight status (non-overweight or overweight) was calculated from measured height and weight.


RESULTS
At baseline, 19% of younger and 21% of older children were overweight. Three years later, a greater proportion of younger (now aged 8-9 years) compared with older (aged 13-15 years) children were classified as overweight (28% versus 18%). Few of the family food environment variables were associated with children's BMI z-score and weight status cross-sectionally and longitudinally. However, among older children, more frequent dinner consumption while watching television was associated with a higher BMI z-score longitudinally (B=0.3, 95% CI=0.0, 0.6), less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with higher odds of overweight longitudinally (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.1-4.7), and more frequent fast food consumption at home was associated with higher odds of overweight cross-sectionally (OR=3.1, 95% CI=1.4-7.0).


CONCLUSIONS
This study found few significant associations between aspects of the family food environment and BMI z-score or weight status in a sample of Australian children.
MacFarlane
Abbie
A
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
Cleland
Verity
V
Crawford
David
D
Campbell
Karen
K
Timperio
Anna
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D057140:Fast Foods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016487:Parenting; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D013997:Time Factors; D014739:Victoria