A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Some similarities in dietary clusters of pre-school children and their mothers
Authors: Ovaskainen ML, Nevalainen J, Uusitalo L, Tuokkola JJ, Arkkola T, Kronberg-Kippila C, Veijola R, Knip M, Virtanen SM
Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Publication year: 2009
Journal:: British Journal of Nutrition
Journal name in source: BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
Journal acronym: BRIT J NUTR
Volume: 102
Issue: 3
First page : 443
Last page: 452
Number of pages: 10
ISSN: 0007-1145
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114508191218
Abstract
The diet of pre-school children is determined by the parents and carers. The aim of the present study was to describe dietary clusters of pre-school children and their mothers in Finland, and analyse the similarity of dietary clusters within child-mother pairs. The present study comprised the mothers (n 4862) whose child was recruited in the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Nutrition Study and the children belonging to selected, cross-sectional age groups of 1 year (n 719), 3 years (n 708) and 6 years (it 841). The dietary data were collected from children by 3-d food records and from mothers by a FFQ validated for pregnant women. The food consumption data were analysed for patterns by hierarchical cluster analysis. Three main dietary clusters were identified in children: 'healthy' and 'traditional' in all three age groups, and 'ready-to-eat baby foods' in 1-year-olds and 'fast foods, sweet' in the older children. Six main clusters were identified among the mothers who completed a FFQ for their diet during pregnancy. Some familial dependence between dietary clusters of mother-child pairs was observed in 6-year-old children but not in younger children. Younger age and lower educational level of the mother were associated with the cluster 'fast food, sweet' only at the age of 3 years. The diets of pre-school children vary by age and only a slight similarity within dietary clusters of mother-child pairs was observed.
The diet of pre-school children is determined by the parents and carers. The aim of the present study was to describe dietary clusters of pre-school children and their mothers in Finland, and analyse the similarity of dietary clusters within child-mother pairs. The present study comprised the mothers (n 4862) whose child was recruited in the Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Nutrition Study and the children belonging to selected, cross-sectional age groups of 1 year (n 719), 3 years (n 708) and 6 years (it 841). The dietary data were collected from children by 3-d food records and from mothers by a FFQ validated for pregnant women. The food consumption data were analysed for patterns by hierarchical cluster analysis. Three main dietary clusters were identified in children: 'healthy' and 'traditional' in all three age groups, and 'ready-to-eat baby foods' in 1-year-olds and 'fast foods, sweet' in the older children. Six main clusters were identified among the mothers who completed a FFQ for their diet during pregnancy. Some familial dependence between dietary clusters of mother-child pairs was observed in 6-year-old children but not in younger children. Younger age and lower educational level of the mother were associated with the cluster 'fast food, sweet' only at the age of 3 years. The diets of pre-school children vary by age and only a slight similarity within dietary clusters of mother-child pairs was observed.
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