Effect of parental weight status on the food packed in preschool children's lunches

Problem. Recent statistics show that over a fifth of children aged 2-5 years in 2006-2008 were overweight, with 7% above the 97 th percentile of the BMI-for-age growth charts (extreme obesity). Because poor diet is an important environmental determinant of obesity and the preschool years are crucial developmentally, examination of factors related to diet in the pre-school years is important for obesity prevention efforts. ^ Objective. The goals of this study were to determine the association between BMI of the parents and the number of servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (FVWG) packed; the nutrient content of preschool children’s lunches; and norms and expectations about FVWG intake.^ Methods. This study was a cross sectional analysis of parents enrolled in the Lunch is in the Bag program at baseline. The independent measure was weight status of the parents/caregivers, which was determined using body mass index (BMI) calculated from self-reported height and weight. BMI was classified as healthy weight (BMI <25) or overweight/obese (BMI ≥25). Outcomes for the study included the number of servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains (FVWG) in sack lunches, as well as the nutrient content of the lunches, and psychosocial constructs related to FVWG consumption. Linear regression analysis was conducted and adjusted for confounders to examine the associations of these outcomes with parental weight status, the main predictor. ^ Results. A total of 132 parent/child dyads were enrolled in the study; 59.09% (n=78) of the parents/caregivers were healthy weight and 39.01% (n=54) of the parents/caregivers were overweight/obese. Parents/caregivers in the study were predominantly white (68%, n=87) and had at least some college education (98%, n=128). No significant associations were found between the weight status of the parents and the servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grain packed in preschool children’s lunchboxes. The results were similar for the association of parental weight status and the nutrient contents of the packed lunches. Both healthy weight and overweight/obese parents packed less than the recommended amounts of vegetables (mean servings = 0.49 and 0.534, respectively) and whole grains (mean servings = 0.58 and 0.511, respectively). However, the intentions of the obese/overweight parents were higher compare to the healthy for vegetables and whole grains.^ Conclusion. Results from this study indicate that there are few differences in the servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains packed by healthy weight parents/caregivers compared to overweight/obese parents/caregivers in a high income, well-educated population, although neither group met the recommended number of servings of vegetables or whole grains. Thus, results indicate the need for behaviorally-based health promotion programs for parents, regardless of their weight status; however, this study should be replicated with larger and more diverse populations to determine if these results are similar with less homogenous populations.^

The relationship of anthropometric measures of Hispanic children up to the age 5, to economic status and parental stature

Using data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982-1984 (HHANES) of the Nutritional Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the heights, weights and arm circumferences of 217 Mexican-American children ranging in age from six to sixty months were examined to assess whether birth weight, parental stature, and economic status greatly influenced growth patterns of Mexican-American children living with both parents.^ Heights, weights, and arm circumferences were converted to standardized values of height-for-age, weight-for-age, and arm circumference-for-age using norms developed for Anglo-American children (NCHS, 1977).^ Correlation and contingency table analysis were performed to test hypotheses concerning factors found associated with the stature of children in earlier studies.^ While relationships among childhood stature and birth weight, parental stature, and economic status were in the expected direction, few were statistically significant due to the small number of cases in the analyses. Reliable conclusions concerning these relationships require a much longer sample of families. ^

MEETING THE NEEDS OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN: A STUDY OF EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO PRE-KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN IN THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM FOR THE HANDICAPPED (PARENT SATISFACTION, FUNCTIONAL STATUS, PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT)

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, P.L. 94-142, created a new challenge for the nation's public school systems. During 1982-1983, a national study, called the "Collaborative Study of Children with Special Needs", was conducted in 5 metropolitan school districts to evaluate the effectiveness of education and health care services of children in kindergarten to 6th grade being provided under P.L. 94-142 programs. This dissertation (the Substudy) was undertaken to augment the findings of the Collaborative Study. The purpose of this study was to develop a database to provide descriptive information on the demographic, service and health characteristics of a small group of 3 and 4 year old handicapped children served by the Houston Independent School District (HISD) during 1982-1983.^ The study involved a stratified sample of 105 three and four year old children divided into 3 groups according to type of handicapping condition.^ The results of the study gave a clearer picture of the demographic characteristics of these Pre-K children. Specifically, sex ratio was approximately one, lower than the national norm. Family and socioeconomic characteristics were assessed.^ The study used an independence/dependence index composed of 11 items on the parent questionnaire to assess the level of functional independence of each child. An association was found between index scores and parent-reported effects of the child on family activity. Parents who said that their child's condition had affected the family's job situation, housing accomodations, vacation plans, marriage, choice of friends and social activities were also more likely to report less independence in the child. In addition, many of the Substudy children had extensive care-taking needs reflected in specific components of the index such as dressing, feeding, toileting or moving about the house.^ In general the results of the Pre-K Substudy indicate that at the early childhood level, the HISD special education program is functioning well in most areas and that parents are very satisfied with the program. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)^

Impact of electrification on children's nutritional status in rural Bangladesh

We offer micro-econometric evidence for a positive impact of rural electrification on the nutritional status of children under five as measured by height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) in rural Bangladesh. In most estimates, access to electricity is found to improve HAZ by more than 0.15 points and this positive impact comes from increased wealth and reduced fertility, even though the evidence for the latter is weak. We also analyze the causal channels through the local health facility and exposure to television. We find no evidence for the presence of the former channel and mixed evidence for the latter.

The intellectual status of children who are public charges,

Columbia university contributions to philosophy and psychology, vol. xxiv, no. 2.

Interests in relation to intelligence: a study of the relation of the mental status of school children to their motivation as shown in the choices of school plans and occupational preferences,

Mode of access: Internet.

The Status of children, youth, and families.

Mode of access: Internet.

Legal provision respecting the education and employment of children in factories, &c.; with examples of improvement in manufacturing districts. Education and labor; or, The influence of education on the quality and value of labor; and its connection with insanity and crime.

Microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich., University Microfilms [n.d.] (American culture series, Reel 235.2)

Legal and political status of women in Iowa, an historical account of the rights of women in Iowa from 1838 to 1918.

Published also as thesis, University of Iowa, 1918.

The law, without the advice of an attorney. Or, Every man his own counsellor. Containing the laws of Pennsylvania relative to bonds, promissory notes, deeds, mortgages, judgments, limitation of actions, leases by parol, property exempt from distress and levy, register and recorder, witnesses, jurors, and constables fees, education of poor children, interest, landlord and tenant, constables, innkeepers, livery stable keepers, mechanics' lien, stage drivers, carters, inland navigation, roads, bridges, fences, strays, swine, water courses, hunting &c. Together with a number of forms and other legal information useful to the farmer, mechanic, or man of business.

Mode of access: Internet.