Sofia Bouhlal1, Colleen M McBride2, Dianne S Ward3, Susan Persky4. 1. Social and Behavioral Research Branch, NIH/NHGRI, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: sofia.bouhlal@nih.gov. 2. Social and Behavioral Research Branch, NIH/NHGRI, Bethesda, MD, USA. 3. Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, NC, USA. 4. Social and Behavioral Research Branch, NIH/NHGRI, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: perskys@mail.nih.gov.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: National data suggest a higher prevalence of obesity among boys. One possible cause could be the food choices made by parents on behalf of their children. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether and how mothers' food choices for their children differ by child gender and to understand the drivers of these differences. DESIGN: Data were analyzed from a randomized controlled trial conducted using a virtual reality-based buffet restaurant. Overweight mothers filled out questionnaires and received an information module. They were then immersed in a virtual buffet restaurant to select a lunch for their 4- to 5-year-old child. RESULTS: Of the 221 overweight mothers recruited, 55% identified their daughters as the child for whom they would be choosing the food. The caloric content of boys' meals was 43 calories higher than girls' (p = .015). This difference was due to extra calories from the less healthy food category (p = .04). Multivariate analyses identified more predictors of calorie choices for daughters' than sons' meals. Predictors of calories chosen for girls included: having both biological parents overweight (β = 0.26; p = .003), mother's weight (β = 0.17; p = .05), mother's education (β = -0.28; p = .001), her restriction of her child's food intake (β = -0.20; p = .02), and her beliefs about the importance of genetics in causing obesity (β = 0.19; p = .03). Mother's weight was the sole predictor of boys' meal calories (β = 0.20; p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in dietary choices made for young girls and boys may contribute to lifelong gender differences in eating patterns. A better understanding of differences in feeding choices made for girls versus boys could improve the design of childhood obesity prevention interventions. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: National data suggest a higher prevalence of obesity among boys. One possible cause could be the food choices made by parents on behalf of their children. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether and how mothers' food choices for their children differ by child gender and to understand the drivers of these differences. DESIGN: Data were analyzed from a randomized controlled trial conducted using a virtual reality-based buffet restaurant. Overweight mothers filled out questionnaires and received an information module. They were then immersed in a virtual buffet restaurant to select a lunch for their 4- to 5-year-old child. RESULTS: Of the 221 overweight mothers recruited, 55% identified their daughters as the child for whom they would be choosing the food. The caloric content of boys' meals was 43 calories higher than girls' (p = .015). This difference was due to extra calories from the less healthy food category (p = .04). Multivariate analyses identified more predictors of calorie choices for daughters' than sons' meals. Predictors of calories chosen for girls included: having both biological parents overweight (β = 0.26; p = .003), mother's weight (β = 0.17; p = .05), mother's education (β = -0.28; p = .001), her restriction of her child's food intake (β = -0.20; p = .02), and her beliefs about the importance of genetics in causing obesity (β = 0.19; p = .03). Mother's weight was the sole predictor of boys' meal calories (β = 0.20; p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in dietary choices made for young girls and boys may contribute to lifelong gender differences in eating patterns. A better understanding of differences in feeding choices made for girls versus boys could improve the design of childhood obesity prevention interventions. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Entities:
Keywords:
Body weight; Child gender; Feeding behavior; Overweight mothers
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