Abstract
Background: There remains a need to understand how information sources can promote young children's healthy beverage consumption and prevent obesity. Objectives: To examine associations of mothers' primary feeding information source with children's sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake, 100% juice intake and adiposity between ages 3 and 7 years. Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study (n = 371 children; 13 visits). Mothers reported their primary feeding information source at baseline and completed child 3-day dietary records each visit. Child adiposity indicators were calculated from repeated height/weight measurements and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Longitudinal models examined beverage intakes and adiposity over time by source. Results: Primary feeding information sources included doctors (48.2%), mothers (17.5%), grandmothers (13.5%), other healthcare professionals (11.3%) and other family/friends (9.4%). Children's juice intake with age differed by source (P interaction = 0.03), with steepest and slightest intake decreases in the doctor (−19.7% each year; 95% CI: −23.7%, −15.5%) and grandmother (−5.0%; −14.5%, 5.5%) subgroups, respectively. Children's SSB intake did not differ by source, but increased annually by 7.1% (4.5%, 9.8%) overall. The grandmother subgroup had the greatest child adiposity over time. Conclusions: Mothers' primary feeding information source may have important, yet heterogeneous, influences on young children's beverage intakes and adiposity over time. Consistent evidence-based messages are likely needed.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e12746 |
Journal | Pediatric Obesity |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2021 |
Keywords
- beverage intake
- dietary records
- DXA
- nutrition guidance
- social influence
- young children