Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children
Healthy eating and active lifestyles are associated with children’s healthy weight and cognitive development. This study examines whether family behaviors relevant for nutrition and activity levels are associated with children’s working memory, independent of their weight status. A convenience sampl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/6/506 |
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| author | Liliana Aguayo Maria Pineros-Leano Rifat B. Alam Rosalba Aguirre-Pereyra Andiara Schwingel Solveig A. Cunningham |
| author_facet | Liliana Aguayo Maria Pineros-Leano Rifat B. Alam Rosalba Aguirre-Pereyra Andiara Schwingel Solveig A. Cunningham |
| author_sort | Liliana Aguayo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Healthy eating and active lifestyles are associated with children’s healthy weight and cognitive development. This study examines whether family behaviors relevant for nutrition and activity levels are associated with children’s working memory, independent of their weight status. A convenience sample of child–caregiver dyads (<i>n</i> = 85 dyads) were recruited from a public preschool serving a low-income community in central Mexico. Caregivers reported the frequency of ten family behaviors using the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity screening tool. Children completed a test of their ability to recall four words after a 60-s distraction task, an assessment of working memory. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the association of children’s working memory with each family behavior, adjusting for children’s sex, age, mother’s age and education, and subjective social status and then also adjusting for children’s age- and sex-specific body mass index percentile (BMI-P) and covariates. Higher frequency of breakfast intake was significantly associated with working memory (β = 0.57, <i>p</i> = 0.013). This association was independent of children’s BMI-P. Other family behaviors (frequent family mealtimes, limiting screen time, and others) were not significantly associated with children’s working memory. Frequent breakfast intake could benefit young children’s working memory, regardless of their weight status. This association merits further investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:23:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-71e0f0006b37441faa068ead62517ca4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:23:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-71e0f0006b37441faa068ead62517ca42023-11-22T00:11:14ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672021-06-018650610.3390/children8060506Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican ChildrenLiliana Aguayo0Maria Pineros-Leano1Rifat B. Alam2Rosalba Aguirre-Pereyra3Andiara Schwingel4Solveig A. Cunningham5Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USASchool of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USADepartment of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USASecretary of Education of the Government of the State of San Luis Potosi (SEGE), San Luis Potosi 78369, SLP, MexicoDepartment of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USAHubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAHealthy eating and active lifestyles are associated with children’s healthy weight and cognitive development. This study examines whether family behaviors relevant for nutrition and activity levels are associated with children’s working memory, independent of their weight status. A convenience sample of child–caregiver dyads (<i>n</i> = 85 dyads) were recruited from a public preschool serving a low-income community in central Mexico. Caregivers reported the frequency of ten family behaviors using the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity screening tool. Children completed a test of their ability to recall four words after a 60-s distraction task, an assessment of working memory. Multiple linear regression models were used to test the association of children’s working memory with each family behavior, adjusting for children’s sex, age, mother’s age and education, and subjective social status and then also adjusting for children’s age- and sex-specific body mass index percentile (BMI-P) and covariates. Higher frequency of breakfast intake was significantly associated with working memory (β = 0.57, <i>p</i> = 0.013). This association was independent of children’s BMI-P. Other family behaviors (frequent family mealtimes, limiting screen time, and others) were not significantly associated with children’s working memory. Frequent breakfast intake could benefit young children’s working memory, regardless of their weight status. This association merits further investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/6/506family nutritionphysical activityhealth behaviorsMexican childrenworking memory |
| spellingShingle | Liliana Aguayo Maria Pineros-Leano Rifat B. Alam Rosalba Aguirre-Pereyra Andiara Schwingel Solveig A. Cunningham Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children Children family nutrition physical activity health behaviors Mexican children working memory |
| title | Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children |
| title_full | Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children |
| title_fullStr | Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children |
| title_short | Association of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity with Preschooler’s Working Memory: A Cross-Sectional Study among Mexican Children |
| title_sort | association of family nutrition and physical activity with preschooler s working memory a cross sectional study among mexican children |
| topic | family nutrition physical activity health behaviors Mexican children working memory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/6/506 |
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