Rachel E Blaine1, Jennifer Orlet Fisher2, Christine E Blake3, Alexandria Orloski2, Nicholas Younginer3, Yasmeen Bruton2, Claudia Ganter4, Eric B Rimm4, Alan C Geller5, Kirsten K Davison4. 1. 1Department of Family and Consumer Sciences,California State University,Long Beach,1250 Bellflower Blvd,FCS FA-15,Long Beach,CA 90840-0501,USA. 2. 3Department of Public Health,Center for Obesity Research and Education,Temple University College of Public Health,Philadelphia, PA,USA. 3. 4Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior,University of South Carolina,Columbia,Columbia, SC,USA. 4. 2Department of Nutrition,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health,Boston, MA,USA. 5. 5Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health,Boston, MA,USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Although television (TV) viewing is frequently paired with snacking among young children, little is known about the environment in which caregivers promote this behaviour. We describe low-income pre-schoolers' snacking and TV viewing habits as reported by their primary caregivers, including social/physical snacking contexts, types of snacks and caregiver rationales for offering snacks. These findings may support the development of effective messages to promote healthy child snacking. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews assessed caregiver conceptualizations of pre-schoolers' snacks, purpose of snacks, snack context and snack frequency. SETTING: Interviews occurred in Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. SUBJECTS: Forty-seven low-income multi-ethnic primary caregivers of children aged 3-5 years (92 % female, 32 % Hispanic/Latino, 34 % African American) described their child's snacking in the context of TV viewing. RESULTS: TV viewing and child snacking themes were described consistently across racial/ethnic groups. Caregivers described snacks offered during TV viewing as largely unhealthy. Labels for TV snacks indicated non-nutritive purposes, such as 'time out', 'enjoyment' or 'quiet.' Caregivers' primary reasons for providing snacks included child's expectations, behaviour management (e.g. to occupy child) and social time (e.g. family bonding). Some caregivers used TV to distract picky children to eat more food. Child snacking and TV viewing were contextually paired by providing child-sized furniture ('TV table') specifically for snacking. CONCLUSIONS: Low-income caregivers facilitate pre-schoolers' snacking and TV viewing, which are described as routine, positive and useful for non-nutritive purposes. Messages to caregivers should encourage 'snack-free' TV viewing, healthy snack options and guidance for managing children's behaviour without snacks or TV.
OBJECTIVE: Although television (TV) viewing is frequently paired with snacking among young children, little is known about the environment in which caregivers promote this behaviour. We describe low-income pre-schoolers' snacking and TV viewing habits as reported by their primary caregivers, including social/physical snacking contexts, types of snacks and caregiver rationales for offering snacks. These findings may support the development of effective messages to promote healthy child snacking. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews assessed caregiver conceptualizations of pre-schoolers' snacks, purpose of snacks, snack context and snack frequency. SETTING: Interviews occurred in Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. SUBJECTS: Forty-seven low-income multi-ethnic primary caregivers of children aged 3-5 years (92 % female, 32 % Hispanic/Latino, 34 % African American) described their child's snacking in the context of TV viewing. RESULTS: TV viewing and child snacking themes were described consistently across racial/ethnic groups. Caregivers described snacks offered during TV viewing as largely unhealthy. Labels for TV snacks indicated non-nutritive purposes, such as 'time out', 'enjoyment' or 'quiet.' Caregivers' primary reasons for providing snacks included child's expectations, behaviour management (e.g. to occupy child) and social time (e.g. family bonding). Some caregivers used TV to distract picky children to eat more food. Child snacking and TV viewing were contextually paired by providing child-sized furniture ('TV table') specifically for snacking. CONCLUSIONS: Low-income caregivers facilitate pre-schoolers' snacking and TV viewing, which are described as routine, positive and useful for non-nutritive purposes. Messages to caregivers should encourage 'snack-free' TV viewing, healthy snack options and guidance for managing children's behaviour without snacks or TV.
Entities:
Keywords:
Feeding; Obesity; Pre-school children; Schema theory; Snack; Television
Authors: Elsie M Taveras; Matthew W Gillman; Ken Kleinman; Janet W Rich-Edwards; Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2010-03-01 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Kirsten K Davison; Christine E Blake; Rachel E Blaine; Nicholas A Younginer; Alexandria Orloski; Heather A Hamtil; Claudia Ganter; Yasmeen P Bruton; Amber E Vaughn; Jennifer O Fisher Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2015-09-17 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Kimberley A Baxter; Smita Nambiar; Tsz Hei Jeffrey So; Danielle Gallegos; Rebecca Byrne Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-05 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Napoleón Pérez-Farinós; Carmen Villar-Villalba; Ana María López Sobaler; María Ángeles Dal Re Saavedra; Aránzazu Aparicio; Sara Santos Sanz; Teresa Robledo de Dios; José Javier Castrodeza-Sanz; Rosa María Ortega Anta Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-01-06 Impact factor: 3.295