Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality
Abstract Background The food and beverages served in family childcare homes (FCCHs) may play an important role in the development of childhood overweight and obesity. This analysis examines whether children’s diet quality mediates the relationship between foods and beverages served in FCCHs and pres...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17179-1 |
| _version_ | 1797451240679931904 |
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| author | Qianxia Jiang Patricia Markham Risica Alison Tovar Kristen Cooksey Stowers Marlene B. Schwartz Caitlin Lombardi Kim M. Gans |
| author_facet | Qianxia Jiang Patricia Markham Risica Alison Tovar Kristen Cooksey Stowers Marlene B. Schwartz Caitlin Lombardi Kim M. Gans |
| author_sort | Qianxia Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The food and beverages served in family childcare homes (FCCHs) may play an important role in the development of childhood overweight and obesity. This analysis examines whether children’s diet quality mediates the relationship between foods and beverages served in FCCHs and preschool-aged children’s weight status. Methods Trained and certified staff conducted observations for two days in each FCCH, using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) measure to determine the foods and beverages served to children (N = 370) in FCCHs (N = 120). They also used the Dietary Observation in Child Care (DOCC) protocol to assess children’s food and beverage intake during childcare, from which we calculated the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI), a measure of diet quality. Height and weight were measured for each child with parent consent from which the child’s body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated. A multilevel mediation analysis was conducted to indicate whether children’s diet quality mediates the relations between food and beverage served in FCCHs and preschool-aged children’s weight status. Results Children’s total HEI scores significantly mediated the relationship between the EPAO subscale Food Provided and children’s BMI z-scores (B=-0.01, p < .05, 95% CI = [-0.03, − 0.002]). Further, the EPAO subscale Food Provided was positively associated with the total HEI score (B = 0.75, p < .01, 95% CI = [0.32, 1.18]). Total HEI scores were negatively associated with BMI z-score (B=-0.01, p < .05, 95% CI = [-0.02, − 0.001]). Conclusion Children’s diet quality did significantly mediate the relationship between the food served in FCCHs and children’s weight status. More longitudinal studies with longer follow-up periods need to be conducted to confirm these relationships. Further, future studies need to examine the relationships between a broader spectrum of FCCH environmental characteristics and home environment with children’s weight status, as well as other mediators including physical activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:50:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-014ae1020906421db31ba18f57586a0d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:50:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-014ae1020906421db31ba18f57586a0d2023-11-26T14:25:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-11-0123111010.1186/s12889-023-17179-1Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet qualityQianxia Jiang0Patricia Markham Risica1Alison Tovar2Kristen Cooksey Stowers3Marlene B. Schwartz4Caitlin Lombardi5Kim M. Gans6Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition, Children’s Mercy Kansas CityDepartment of Behavioral and Social Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown UniversityDepartment of Behavioral and Social Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown UniversityDepartment of Allied Health Sciences, University of ConnecticutDepartment of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of ConnecticutDepartment of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of ConnecticutDepartment of Behavioral and Social Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown UniversityAbstract Background The food and beverages served in family childcare homes (FCCHs) may play an important role in the development of childhood overweight and obesity. This analysis examines whether children’s diet quality mediates the relationship between foods and beverages served in FCCHs and preschool-aged children’s weight status. Methods Trained and certified staff conducted observations for two days in each FCCH, using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) measure to determine the foods and beverages served to children (N = 370) in FCCHs (N = 120). They also used the Dietary Observation in Child Care (DOCC) protocol to assess children’s food and beverage intake during childcare, from which we calculated the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI), a measure of diet quality. Height and weight were measured for each child with parent consent from which the child’s body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated. A multilevel mediation analysis was conducted to indicate whether children’s diet quality mediates the relations between food and beverage served in FCCHs and preschool-aged children’s weight status. Results Children’s total HEI scores significantly mediated the relationship between the EPAO subscale Food Provided and children’s BMI z-scores (B=-0.01, p < .05, 95% CI = [-0.03, − 0.002]). Further, the EPAO subscale Food Provided was positively associated with the total HEI score (B = 0.75, p < .01, 95% CI = [0.32, 1.18]). Total HEI scores were negatively associated with BMI z-score (B=-0.01, p < .05, 95% CI = [-0.02, − 0.001]). Conclusion Children’s diet quality did significantly mediate the relationship between the food served in FCCHs and children’s weight status. More longitudinal studies with longer follow-up periods need to be conducted to confirm these relationships. Further, future studies need to examine the relationships between a broader spectrum of FCCH environmental characteristics and home environment with children’s weight status, as well as other mediators including physical activity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17179-1Family childcare homesDiet qualityChildhood obesityEarly childcare |
| spellingShingle | Qianxia Jiang Patricia Markham Risica Alison Tovar Kristen Cooksey Stowers Marlene B. Schwartz Caitlin Lombardi Kim M. Gans Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality BMC Public Health Family childcare homes Diet quality Childhood obesity Early childcare |
| title | Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality |
| title_full | Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality |
| title_fullStr | Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality |
| title_short | Mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality |
| title_sort | mediation of the association between social environmental characteristics of family childcare home and weight status in children by diet quality |
| topic | Family childcare homes Diet quality Childhood obesity Early childcare |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17179-1 |
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