Mm. Zive et al., DETERMINANTS OF DIETARY-INTAKE IN A SAMPLE OF WHITE AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN, Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 98(11), 1998, pp. 1282-1289
Objective To assess the influence of several potential psychosocial de
terminants on children's eating behavior. Participants Three hundred f
ifty-one Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white children (mean age=4.
4 years old at baseline) participated in the San Diego Study of Childr
en's Activity and Nutrition for up to 2.5 years. Methods Child's eatin
g behavior was described by 3 dependent variables: total energy, perce
ntage energy from fat, and sodium intake per 1,000 kcal. Dietary infor
mation was collected 4 days a year using a 24-hour food intake record,
which was a combination of direct observation and interviews with foo
d preparers. The 35 predictor variables from child, parental, demograp
hic, and environmental domains were collected by behavioral observatio
n, interviewer-administered questionnaires, and physical measurements.
Statistical analyses Bivariate and regression analyses via mixed line
ar models were performed. Results Variables from the children's domain
(such as skinfold thickness and weight) had the strongest association
s with energy intake; parental variables (such as fat avoidance behavi
or and prompts to increase children's food intake) were associated wit
h child's percentage energy from fat and sodium intake. In regression
analyses, parsimonious subsets of variables accounted for 46% of varia
nce in energy intake (3 variables), 40% of the variance in percentage
of energy from fat (4 variables), and 44% of variance in sodium intake
per 1,000 kcal energy (1 variable) in between-subject variance compon
ents. Conclusions Fat and sodium intake of children may be improved by
improving parents' nutrition habits and by having parents encourage c
hildren to eat a healthful diet. Few modifiable correlates of children
's energy intake were identified.