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Associations between dietary intakes of first-time fathers and their 20-month-old children are moderated by fathers' BMI, education and age
Walsh, Adam Cameron, Adrian Hesketh, Kylie Crawford, David Campbell, Karen
Walsh, Adam
Cameron, Adrian
Hesketh, Kylie
Crawford, David
Campbell, Karen
Abstract
Children’s learning about food is considerable during their formative years, with parental influence being pivotal. Research has focused predominantly on maternal influences, with little known about the relationships between fathers’ and children’s diets. Greater understanding of this relationship is necessary for the design of appropriate interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between the diets of fathers and their children and the moderating effects of fathers’ BMI, education and age on these associations. The diets of fathers and their first-born children (n 317) in the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program were assessed using an FFQ and 3 × 24-h recalls, respectively. The InFANT Program is a cluster-randomised controlled trial in the setting of first-time parents groups in Victoria, Australia. Associations between father and child fruit, vegetable, non-core food and non-core drink intakes were assessed using linear regression. The extent to which these associations were mediated by maternal intake was tested. Moderation of associations by paternal BMI, education and age was assessed. Positive associations were found between fathers’ and children’s intake of fruit, sweet snacks and take-away foods. Paternal BMI, education and age moderated the relationships found for the intakes of fruit (BMI), vegetables (age), savoury snacks (BMI and education) and take-away foods (BMI and education). Our findings suggest that associations exist at a young age and are moderated by paternal BMI, education and age. This study highlights the importance of fathers in modelling healthy diets for their children.
Keywords
fathers, diets, young children, moderation effects
Date
2015
Type
Journal article
Journal
Book
Volume
114
Issue
6
Page Range
988-994
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
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- Embargoed until 9999-12-31
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Notes
© The Authors 2015
This study was funded by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Project (grant no. 425801).
This study was funded by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Project (grant no. 425801).