OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an association exists between different clusters of fruit- and vegetable-specific family-environmental factors and children's daily fruit and vegetable intake, and whether these associations differ between countries with different school lunch policies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from four European countries participating in the Pro Greens project in 2009. These countries have different school food policies: two serve free school lunches and two do not. Self-administered data were used. Food frequency questions served to assess fruit and vegetable intakes. The study assessed sixteen children-perceived family-environmental factors, which were clustered based on principal component analysis into five sum variables: fruit and vegetable encouragement; vegetable modelling, family routine and demand; fruit modelling; fruit and vegetable snacking practices; and fruit and vegetable allowing. SETTING: Schools in Finland, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. SUBJECTS: Schoolchildren aged 11 years (n 3317). RESULTS: Multilevel logistic regression analyses revealed positive associations between nearly all clustered family-environmental factors and daily fruit and vegetable intake. The study tested a moderation effect between family-environmental factors and school lunch policy. In five out of twenty models significant interactions occurred. In the stratified analyses, most of the associations between family-environmental factors and raw and cooked vegetable intake were stronger in Germany and the Netherlands, neither of which provided free school lunches. CONCLUSIONS: Children reporting more fruit- and vegetable-promoting family-environmental factors had a more frequent intake of fruits and vegetables; the associations were stronger for vegetable intakes in countries providing no free school lunches, suggesting that parental involvement is crucial when schools offer no vegetables.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an association exists between different clusters of fruit- and vegetable-specific family-environmental factors and children's daily fruit and vegetable intake, and whether these associations differ between countries with different school lunch policies. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from four European countries participating in the Pro Greens project in 2009. These countries have different school food policies: two serve free school lunches and two do not. Self-administered data were used. Food frequency questions served to assess fruit and vegetable intakes. The study assessed sixteen children-perceived family-environmental factors, which were clustered based on principal component analysis into five sum variables: fruit and vegetable encouragement; vegetable modelling, family routine and demand; fruit modelling; fruit and vegetable snacking practices; and fruit and vegetable allowing. SETTING: Schools in Finland, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. SUBJECTS: Schoolchildren aged 11 years (n 3317). RESULTS: Multilevel logistic regression analyses revealed positive associations between nearly all clustered family-environmental factors and daily fruit and vegetable intake. The study tested a moderation effect between family-environmental factors and school lunch policy. In five out of twenty models significant interactions occurred. In the stratified analyses, most of the associations between family-environmental factors and raw and cooked vegetable intake were stronger in Germany and the Netherlands, neither of which provided free school lunches. CONCLUSIONS:Children reporting more fruit- and vegetable-promoting family-environmental factors had a more frequent intake of fruits and vegetables; the associations were stronger for vegetable intakes in countries providing no free school lunches, suggesting that parental involvement is crucial when schools offer no vegetables.
Authors: Ester F C Sleddens; Willemieke Kroeze; Leonie F M Kohl; Laura M Bolten; Elizabeth Velema; Pam J Kaspers; Johannes Brug; Stef P J Kremers Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2015-02-01 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Ester F C Sleddens; Willemieke Kroeze; Leonie F M Kohl; Laura M Bolten; Elizabeth Velema; Pam Kaspers; Stef P J Kremers; Johannes Brug Journal: Nutr Rev Date: 2015-06-22 Impact factor: 7.110
Authors: Patricia Jane Lucas; Emma Patterson; Gary Sacks; Natassja Billich; Charlotte Elizabeth Louise Evans Journal: Nutrients Date: 2017-07-11 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: W Ahrens; A Siani; R Adan; S De Henauw; G Eiben; W Gwozdz; A Hebestreit; M Hunsberger; J Kaprio; V Krogh; L Lissner; D Molnár; L A Moreno; A Page; C Picó; L Reisch; R M Smith; M Tornaritis; T Veidebaum; G Williams; H Pohlabeln; I Pigeot Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2017-10-01 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Dorota Zarnowiecki; Meaghan S Christian; James Dollman; Natalie Parletta; Charlotte E L Evans; Janet E Cade Journal: AIMS Public Health Date: 2018-10-25
Authors: Wolfgang Ahrens; Antje Hebestreit; Hannah S Jilani; Timm Intemann; Leonie H Bogl; Gabriele Eiben; Dénes Molnar; Luis A Moreno; Valeria Pala; Paola Russo; Alfonso Siani; Antonia Solea; Toomas Veidebaum Journal: BMC Nutr Date: 2017-12-06