Treats: low socioeconomic status Australian parents’ provision of extra foods for their overweight or obese children
Melanie Pescud A C and Simone Pettigrew B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Health Promotion Evaluation Unit, School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
B School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: melanie.pescud@uwa.edu.au
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 25(2) 104-109 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE13093
Submitted: 25 October 2013 Accepted: 14 May 2014 Published: 18 August 2014
Abstract
Issue addressed: Child obesity is a global issue, with rates highest among disadvantaged groups. Overconsumption of treats is a contributor to children’s weight problems. The objective of this study was to explore low socioeconomic parents’ beliefs and behaviours relating to their provision of treat foods for their overweight or obese children.
Methods: Qualitative methods were used to collect data; these included introspections, interviews and focus groups. A total of 37 parents of overweight or obese children aged between 5 and 9 years took part in the 12-month study.
Results: Most parents provided their children with treats on a daily basis. Factors affecting parents’ provision of treats included parents’ desire to control their children’s behaviour, to demonstrate love and affection, and to address deprivation beliefs.
Conclusion: There is considerable scope for improving these parents’ treating behaviours by understanding the relevant factors underpinning their situations and choices.
So what?: The findings provide an indication of the kinds of health promotion interventions that may be needed to assist in addressing treating behaviours among disadvantaged parents with overweight or obese children.
Key words: extra foods, food provision.
References
[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Health Survey: first results, 2011–2012. Catalogue No. 4364.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS; 2012a.[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Children who are overweight or obese. Catalogue No. 4102.0. Canberra: ABS; 2009.
[3] Rayner M, Scarborough P (2005) The burden of food related ill health in the UK. J Epidemiol Community Health 59, 1054–7.
| The burden of food related ill health in the UK.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16286493PubMed |
[4] National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian dietary guidelines. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council; 2013.
[5] Campbell K, Crawford D, Jackson M, Cashel K, Worsley A, Gibbons K, et al (2002) Family food environments of 5–6-year-old-children: does socioeconomic status make a difference? Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 11, S553–61.
| Family food environments of 5–6-year-old-children: does socioeconomic status make a difference?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12492647PubMed |
[6] MacFarlane A, Crawford D, Ball K, Savige G, Worsley A (2007) Adolescent home food environments and socioeconomic position. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 16, 748–56.
[7] O’Dea JA (2008) Gender, ethnicity, culture and social class influences on childhood obesity among Australian school children: implications for treatment, prevention and community education. Health Soc Care Community 16, 282–90.
| Gender, ethnicity, culture and social class influences on childhood obesity among Australian school children: implications for treatment, prevention and community education.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18328051PubMed |
[8] Petrunoff NA, Wilkenfeld RL, King LA, Flood VM (2012) ‘Treats’, ‘sometimes food’, ‘junk’: a qualitative study exploring ‘extra foods’ with parents of young children. Public Health Nutr 17, 979–86.
| ‘Treats’, ‘sometimes food’, ‘junk’: a qualitative study exploring ‘extra foods’ with parents of young children.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23182377PubMed |
[9] Dammann KW, Smith C (2009) Factors affecting low-income women’s food choices and the perceived impact of dietary intake and socioeconomic status on their health and weight. J Nutr Educ Behav 41, 242–53.
| Factors affecting low-income women’s food choices and the perceived impact of dietary intake and socioeconomic status on their health and weight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19508929PubMed |
[10] Inglis V, Ball K, Crawford D (2005) Why do women of low socioeconomic status have poorer dietary behaviours than women of higher socioeconomic status? A qualitative exploration. Appetite 45, 334–43.
| Why do women of low socioeconomic status have poorer dietary behaviours than women of higher socioeconomic status? A qualitative exploration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2Mnhs1Wgug%3D%3D&md5=fcd831136d8dcc05d526fe0bfcd1233bCAS | 16171900PubMed |
[11] McLeod ER, Campbell KJ, Hesketh KD (2011) Nutrition knowledge: a mediator between socioeconomic position and diet quality in Australian first-time mothers. J Am Diet Assoc 111, 696–704.
| Nutrition knowledge: a mediator between socioeconomic position and diet quality in Australian first-time mothers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21515115PubMed |
[12] Thornton LE, Pearce JR, Ball K (2014) Sociodemographic factors associated with healthy eating and food security in socio-economically disadvantaged groups in the UK and Victoria, Australia. Public Health Nutr 17, 20–30.
| Sociodemographic factors associated with healthy eating and food security in socio-economically disadvantaged groups in the UK and Victoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23448943PubMed |
[13] Hughes CC, Sherman SN, Whitaker RC (2010) How low-income mothers with overweight preschool children make sense of obesity. Qual Health Res 20, 465–78.
| How low-income mothers with overweight preschool children make sense of obesity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3c3htFGmsg%3D%3D&md5=51e57e95a5577dd6b72b6caaef249407CAS | 20147505PubMed |
[14] Bell AC, Kremer PJ, Magarey AM, Swinburn BA (2005) Contribution of ‘noncore’ foods and beverages to the energy intake and weight status of Australian children. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 639–45.
| Contribution of ‘noncore’ foods and beverages to the energy intake and weight status of Australian children.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M3jtF2ktg%3D%3D&md5=3237f214c361071c87b7508cfed76d44CAS | 15714218PubMed |
[15] Innes-Hughes C, Hardy LL, Venugopal K, King LA, Wolfenden L, Rangan A (2011) Children’s consumption of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods, fruit and vegetables: are they related? An analysis of data from a cross sectional survey. Health Promot J Austr 22, 210–6.
[16] Martin K, Rosenberg M, Miller M, French S, McCormack G, Bull F, et al. Move and Munch Final Report. Trends in physical activity, nutrition and body size in Western Australian children and adolescents: the Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (CAPANS); 2008.
[17] Rangan AM, Randall D, Hector DJ, Gill TP, Webb KL (2008) Consumption of ‘extra’ foods by Australian children: types, quantities and contribution to energy and nutrient intakes. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 356–64.
| Consumption of ‘extra’ foods by Australian children: types, quantities and contribution to energy and nutrient intakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXivVOqt78%3D&md5=8640800ae9fc3263dcfb01f40e9e9d8dCAS | 17356553PubMed |
[18] Sanigorski AM, Bell AC, Kremer PJ, Swinburn BA (2005) Lunchbox contents of Australian school children: room for improvement. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 1310–6.
| Lunchbox contents of Australian school children: room for improvement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2MrosV2msw%3D%3D&md5=98f48870b38d6365ad2ba32242efc967CAS | 16034359PubMed |
[19] Hesketh K, Waters E, Green J, Salmon L, Williams J (2005) Healthy eating, activity and obesity prevention: a qualitative study of parent and child perceptions in Australia. Health Promot Int 20, 19–26.
| Healthy eating, activity and obesity prevention: a qualitative study of parent and child perceptions in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M%2FpvVSqsA%3D%3D&md5=11a85289f09916a4c0e538348fa2866bCAS | 15668217PubMed |
[20] Hill AJ (2002) Developmental issues in attitudes to food and diet. Proc Nutr Soc 61, 259–66.
| Developmental issues in attitudes to food and diet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12133208PubMed |
[21] Heilman CM, Nakamoto K, Rao AG (2002) Pleasant surprises: consumer response to unexpected in-store coupons. J Mark Res 39, 242–52.
| Pleasant surprises: consumer response to unexpected in-store coupons.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[22] Thomas M, Nelson TF, Harwood E, Neumark-Sztainer D (2012) Exploring parent perceptions of the food environment in youth sport. J Nutr Educ Behav 44, 365–71.
| Exploring parent perceptions of the food environment in youth sport.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22507257PubMed |
[23] Backett-Milburn KC, Wills WJ, Roberts ML, Lawton J (2010) Food, eating and taste: parents’ perspectives on the making of the middle class teenager. Soc Sci Med 71, 1316–23.
| Food, eating and taste: parents’ perspectives on the making of the middle class teenager.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20692083PubMed |
[24] Russell CG, Worsley A (2013) Why don’t they like that? And can I do anything about it? The nature and correlates of parents’ attributions and self-efficacy beliefs about preschool children’s food preferences. Appetite 66, 34–43.
| Why don’t they like that? And can I do anything about it? The nature and correlates of parents’ attributions and self-efficacy beliefs about preschool children’s food preferences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23474088PubMed |
[25] Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH (2000) Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ 320, 1240–3.
| Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c3lvFehsA%3D%3D&md5=5071e122a92744bf989608c4fbbf08bfCAS | 10797032PubMed |
[26] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Year book Australia, No. 92, 2012. Catalogue No. 1301.0. Canberra: ABS; 2012b.
[27] Hendy HM, Williams KE (2012) Mother’s feeding practices for children 3–10 years of age and their associations with child demographics. Appetite 58, 710–6.
| Mother’s feeding practices for children 3–10 years of age and their associations with child demographics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22269792PubMed |
[28] Kolodinsky J, Harvey-Berino JR, Berlin L, Johnson RK, Reynolds TW (2007) Knowledge of current dietary guidelines and food choice by college students: better eaters have higher knowledge of dietary guidance. J Am Diet Assoc 107, 1409–13.
| Knowledge of current dietary guidelines and food choice by college students: better eaters have higher knowledge of dietary guidance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17659910PubMed |
[29] Turrell G, Kavanagh AM (2006) Socio-economic pathways to diet: modelling the association between socio-economic position and food purchasing behaviour. Public Health Nutr 9, 375–83.
| Socio-economic pathways to diet: modelling the association between socio-economic position and food purchasing behaviour.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16684390PubMed |
[30] Pescud M, Pettigrew S (2012) ‘I know it’s wrong but ...’: a qualitative investigation of low-income parents’ feelings of guilt about their child-feeding practices. Matern Child Nutr
| ‘I know it’s wrong but ...’: a qualitative investigation of low-income parents’ feelings of guilt about their child-feeding practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22708589PubMed |
[31] Roberts M, Pettigrew S (2013) Psychosocial influences on children’s food consumption. Psychol Mark 30, 103–20.
| Psychosocial influences on children’s food consumption.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[32] Pagnini DL, Wilkenfeld RL, King LA, Booth ML, Booth SL (2007) Mothers of pre-school children talk about childhood overweight and obesity: the Weight of Opinion study. J Paediatr Child Health 43, 806–10.
| Mothers of pre-school children talk about childhood overweight and obesity: the Weight of Opinion study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17803669PubMed |
[33] Schwartz MB, Puhl R (2003) Childhood obesity: a societal problem to solve. Obes Rev 4, 57–71.
| Childhood obesity: a societal problem to solve.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2Fps1Slsg%3D%3D&md5=faef03bb45e1af70289cc7e067d0c621CAS | 12608527PubMed |
[34] Wang Y, Lobstein T (2006) Worldwide trends in childhood overweight and obesity. Int J Pediatr Obes 1, 11–25.
| Worldwide trends in childhood overweight and obesity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17902211PubMed |
[35] Maubach N, Hoek J (2010) A qualitative study of New Zealand parents’ views on front-of-pack nutrition labels. Nutr Diet 67, 90–6.
| A qualitative study of New Zealand parents’ views on front-of-pack nutrition labels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[36] Pettigrew S, Pescud M (2013) The salience of food labeling among low-income families with overweight children. J Nutr Educ Behav 45, 332–9.
| The salience of food labeling among low-income families with overweight children.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23611787PubMed |
[37] Schwartz MB, Chen EY, Brownell KD (2003) Trick, treat, or toy: children are just as likely to choose toys as candy on Halloween. J Nutr Educ Behav 35, 207–9.
| Trick, treat, or toy: children are just as likely to choose toys as candy on Halloween.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12859885PubMed |
[38] Pettigrew S, Pescud M, Donovan RJ (2012) Traffic light food labelling in schools and beyond. Health Educ J 71, 746–53.
| Traffic light food labelling in schools and beyond.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[39] Birch LL, Birch D, Marlin DW, Kramer L (1982) Effects of instrumental consumption on children’s food preference. Appetite 3, 125–34.
| Effects of instrumental consumption on children’s food preference.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL3s%2FkslWgtQ%3D%3D&md5=19e9eec790bbf1605c6818ac2a2008a1CAS | 7137991PubMed |
[40] Birch LL, McPhee L, Shoba BC, Steinberg L, Krehbiel R (1987) “Clean up your plate”: effects of child feeding practices on the conditioning of meal size. Learn Motiv 18, 301–17.
| “Clean up your plate”: effects of child feeding practices on the conditioning of meal size.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[41] Sanders MR, Turner KMT, Markie-Dadds C (2002) The development and dissemination of the Triple P—Positive Parenting Program: a multilevel, evidence-based system of parenting and family support. Prev Sci 3, 173–89.
| The development and dissemination of the Triple P—Positive Parenting Program: a multilevel, evidence-based system of parenting and family support.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12387553PubMed |
[42] Van de Mortel TF (2008) Faking it: social desirability response bias in self-report research. Aust J Adv Nurs 25, 40–8.
[43] Dean JP, Whyte WF (1958) How do you know if the informant is telling the truth? Hum Organ 17, 34–8.
