Lh. Epstein et al., Increasing fruit and vegetable intake and decreasing fat and sugar intake in families at risk for childhood obesity, OBES RES, 9(3), 2001, pp. 171-178
Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of a parent-fo
cused behavioral intervention on parent and child eating changes and on per
centage of overweight changes in families that contain at least one obese p
arent and a non-obese child.
Research Methods and Procedures: Families with obese parents and non-obese
children were randomized to groups in which parents were provided a compreh
ensive behavioral weight-control program and were encouraged to increase fr
uit and vegetable intake or decrease intake of high-fat/high-sugar foods. C
hild materials targeted the same dietary changes as their parents without c
aloric restriction.
Results: Changes over 1 year showed that treatment influenced targeted pare
nt and child fruit and vegetable intake and high-fat/high-sugar intake, wit
h the Increase Fruit and Vegetable group also decreasing their consumption
of high-fat/high-sugar foods. Parents in the increased fruit and vegetable
group showed significantly greater decreases in percentage of overweight th
an parents in the decreased high-fat/high-sugar group.
Discussion: These results suggest that focusing on increasing intake of hea
lthy foods may be a useful approach for nutritional change in obese parents
and their children.