Author:
Chang Jun-Jie,Xu Nuo,Song Ling-Ling,Li Yong-Han,Yuan Meng-Yuan,Zhang Ting-Ting,He Yang,Chen Shan-Shan,Wang Geng-Fu,Su Pu-Yu
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Overweight and obesity rates have increased rapidly in Chinese school-age children, and previous studies have indicated that poor dietary literacy can lead to unhealthy eating behaviours. However, few studies have investigated the association between the dietary literacy of daily diet providers and the eating behaviours and nutritional status of school-age children raised by the providers. Thus, we aimed to explore this association.
Methods
We collected data on the eating behaviours and nutritional status of children in two primary schools in Anhui Province, as well as the dietary literacy of their daily diet providers. T-tests, one-way ANOVA, chi-square tests, and multiple linear regression were used to analyse the association.
Results
We found significant differences in the scores on the Questionnaire of Children's Daily Diet Providers' Dietary Literacy (QCDDPDL) by region, relationship with the child, age, and educational level of the daily diet provider (all p < .05). Moreover, the children in the low QCDDPDL score group were inclined to engage in unhealthy eating behaviours such as emotional undereating and overeating (p < .05). In addition, the incidence of overweight and obesity was higher in the low QCDDPDL attitude score group than in the high score group (p = .006).
Conclusions
Our study showed that the dietary literacy of diet providers may influence children's health and eating behaviours. Improving the dietary literacy of diet providers may promote the health status and eating behaviours of school-age children.
Funder
Dietary Nutrition Research and Education Fund of Danone Nutrition Center
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health