Home Environment Factors and Health Behaviors of Low-income, Overweight, and Obese Youth
Beth A Conlon1, Aileen P Mcginn2, Carmen R Isasi2
1Postgraduate Student, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Bronx, NY;,
Insights
Family meals and healthy home food availability promote better health behaviors in overweight children. Limiting screen time during meals also supports healthier eating and activity patterns for youth obesity prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Obesity
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- The home environment significantly influences children's health behaviors, particularly those linked to obesity.
- Understanding these influences is crucial for developing effective interventions for overweight and obese youth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between home environment factors and the dietary and physical activity behaviors of overweight or obese children.
- To identify specific parenting practices, family meal habits, and home availability of foods/media that correlate with children's health behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of baseline data from child and parent/caregiver dyads in an urban family weight management program.
- Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine relationships between home environment variables and children's fruit/vegetable intake, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, moderate-vigorous physical activity, and sedentary time (ST).
- Adjustments were made for potential confounding factors.
Main Results:
- Higher fruit consumption was linked to frequent family meals and low TV viewing during meals.
- Increased vegetable intake was associated with greater availability of fruits/vegetables and lower availability of SSBs at home.
- Higher sedentary time (ST) in children was related to parental monitoring and frequent TV viewing during meals.
Conclusions:
- Overweight and obese children exhibit healthier habits when families dine together without screens and when healthy food options are readily available.
- Interventions encouraging family mealtime practices and optimizing the home food environment may contribute to healthier body weight in children.
Abstract:
Objectives: Home environment may influence children's health behaviors associated with obesity. In this study, we examined home environment factors associated with diet and physical activity behaviors of overweight or obese youth. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from child and parent/caregiver dyads enrolled in an urban family weight management program. Multivariable logistic regression examined how home environment (parenting practices, family meal habits, and home availability of fruits/vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), screen media, and physical activity resources) are related to children's intake of fruit, vegetables, and SSBs, and moderate-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time (ST) after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Children were more likely to consume fruit if their families frequently ate meals together and infrequently watched TV during meals, and more likely to consume vegetables with high fruit/vegetable availability and low SSB availability. Children were more likely to engage in ST if parents practiced monitoring and frequently watched TV during meals. Conclusions: Overweight or obese children appear to have healthier habits if their families eat meals together without watching TV and if healthy food choices are available in the home. Encouraging parents to focus these practices may promote healthier body weight in children.
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