title: The influence of parental encouragement and caring about healthy eating on children's diet quality and body weights.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to mitigate childhood obesity, evidence on what influences children's health behaviours is needed to inform new health promotion strategies. The present study investigated the association between parental practices and their child's diet and body weight status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grade 5 students and their parents completed health surveys. Parents were asked how much they 'encourage their child to eat healthy foods' and how much they 'personally care about healthy eating'. Children's diet quality and vegetable and fruit intake were assessed using an FFQ. Children's heights and weights were measured to determine body weight status. Mixed-effects regression models were used to determine the influence of parental responses on the outcomes of interest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elementary schools across the province of Alberta, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grade 5 students (aged 10 and 11 years; n 8388) and their parent(s).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most parents reported caring about healthy eating and encouraging their child to eat healthy foods at least quite a lot. Children whose parents who cared or encouraged 'very much' compared with 'quite a lot' were more likely have better diet quality and were less likely to be overweight. Children whose parents both cared and encouraged 'very much' compared with 'quite a lot' scored an average of 2·06 points higher on the diet quality index (β=2·06; 95 % CI 1·45, 2·66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health promotion strategies that aim for a high level of parental interest and encouragement of their children to eat healthy foods may improve diet quality and prevent overweight among children.
authors.affiliation: Population Health Intervention Research Unit,School of Public Health,University of Alberta,3-50 University Terrace,8303-112 Street,Edmonton,Alberta,Canada,T6G 2T4.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faught
authors.affiliation: Population Health Intervention Research Unit,School of Public Health,University of Alberta,3-50 University Terrace,8303-112 Street,Edmonton,Alberta,Canada,T6G 2T4.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vander Ploeg
authors.affiliation: Population Health Intervention Research Unit,School of Public Health,University of Alberta,3-50 University Terrace,8303-112 Street,Edmonton,Alberta,Canada,T6G 2T4.
authors.forename: Yen Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Population Health Intervention Research Unit,School of Public Health,University of Alberta,3-50 University Terrace,8303-112 Street,Edmonton,Alberta,Canada,T6G 2T4.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Storey
authors.affiliation: Population Health Intervention Research Unit,School of Public Health,University of Alberta,3-50 University Terrace,8303-112 Street,Edmonton,Alberta,Canada,T6G 2T4.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Veugelers
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000072001:Diet, Healthy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables
keywords: Childhood obesity; Health behaviours; Health promotion strategies; Nutrition; Parenting; Public health