Lila Asfour1, Ruby Natale2, Susan Uhlhorn2, Kris L Arheart3, Kanathy Haney3, Sarah E Messiah4. 1. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL. Electronic address: lasfour@med.miami.edu. 2. Division of Clinical Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL. 3. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL. 4. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL; Division of Pediatric Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the relationship between food security and child nutritional intake, sedentary behavior, and body mass index (BMI) and potential moderation by ethnic subgroup membership. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data analysis from baseline data of a preschool intervention trial. SETTING: Twenty-eight subsidized child care centers in Miami-Dade County, FL. PARTICIPANTS: Children ages 2 to 5 (n = 1,211) and their caregivers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The BMI percentile and the following 4 factors (via confirmatory factor analysis): food security, consumption of fruits/vegetables, consumption of unhealthy foods, and sedentary behaviors. ANALYSIS: Separate linear mixed models tested relationships between food security and main outcome measures with an interaction term to test for possible moderation by ethnicity. RESULTS: Results indicated a significant relationship (P < .05) between food security and child consumption of fruit/vegetables, consumption of unhealthy foods, and sedentary behavior, but not with BMI percentile. With greater food security, Haitians reported greater consumption of fruit/vegetables and sedentary behavior. With greater food security, Cubans and non-Hispanic whites reported less consumption of unhealthy foods, while Haitians reported greater consumption. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Results showed higher food security was associated with higher consumption of fruit/vegetables, consumption of unhealthy foods, and sedentary behavior, but this was moderated by ethnicity. Implications for healthy weight interventions among low-income preschoolers should focus on the importance of food security and tailor intervention strategies for diverse ethnic groups accordingly.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the relationship between food security and child nutritional intake, sedentary behavior, and body mass index (BMI) and potential moderation by ethnic subgroup membership. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data analysis from baseline data of a preschool intervention trial. SETTING: Twenty-eight subsidized child care centers in Miami-Dade County, FL. PARTICIPANTS: Children ages 2 to 5 (n = 1,211) and their caregivers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The BMI percentile and the following 4 factors (via confirmatory factor analysis): food security, consumption of fruits/vegetables, consumption of unhealthy foods, and sedentary behaviors. ANALYSIS: Separate linear mixed models tested relationships between food security and main outcome measures with an interaction term to test for possible moderation by ethnicity. RESULTS: Results indicated a significant relationship (P < .05) between food security and child consumption of fruit/vegetables, consumption of unhealthy foods, and sedentary behavior, but not with BMI percentile. With greater food security, Haitians reported greater consumption of fruit/vegetables and sedentary behavior. With greater food security, Cubans and non-Hispanic whites reported less consumption of unhealthy foods, while Haitians reported greater consumption. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Results showed higher food security was associated with higher consumption of fruit/vegetables, consumption of unhealthy foods, and sedentary behavior, but this was moderated by ethnicity. Implications for healthy weight interventions among low-income preschoolers should focus on the importance of food security and tailor intervention strategies for diverse ethnic groups accordingly.
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