Conditioned to eat while watching television? Low-income caregivers’ perspectives on the role of snacking and television viewing among pre-schoolers

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15096882
AutoresRachel E Blaine (0000-0003-3561-7601, Harvard University, autor de correspondencia), Jennifer O Fisher (0000-0002-8804-5857, Philadelphia Department of Public Health), Christine E Blake (0000-0002-0121-6837, South Carolina Department of Education), Alexandria Orloski (Philadelphia Department of Public Health), Nicholas Younginer (0000-0002-0374-8829, South Carolina Department of Education), Yasmeen Bruton (0000-0002-5936-5245, Philadelphia Department of Public Health), Claudia Ganter (Harvard University), Eric B Rimm (0000-0002-1402-7250, Harvard University), Alan C Geller (0000-0003-3060-5513, Harvard University), Keith K Davison (0000-0002-3492-918X, Harvard University), Kirsten K Davison
Año2016
Volumen19
Número9
Páginas1598-1605
Fecha de publicación2016-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s136898001500364x
PMID26794059
OpenAlexW2406144641
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas9
Referencias citadas35

Objective Although television (TV) viewing is frequently paired with snacking among young children, little is known about the environment in which caregivers promote this behaviour. We describe low-income pre-schoolers’ snacking and TV viewing habits as reported by their primary caregivers, including social/physical snacking contexts, types of snacks and caregiver rationales for offering snacks. These findings may support the development of effective messages to promote healthy child snacking. Design Semi-structured interviews assessed caregiver conceptualizations of pre-schoolers’ snacks, purpose of snacks, snack context and snack frequency. Setting Interviews occurred in Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Subjects Forty-seven low-income multi-ethnic primary caregivers of children aged 3–5 years (92 % female, 32 % Hispanic/Latino, 34 % African American) described their child’s snacking in the context of TV viewing. Results TV viewing and child snacking themes were described consistently across racial/ethnic groups. Caregivers described snacks offered during TV viewing as largely unhealthy. Labels for TV snacks indicated non-nutritive purposes, such as ‘time out’, ‘enjoyment’ or ‘quiet.’ Caregivers’ primary reasons for providing snacks included child’s expectations, behaviour management (e.g. to occupy child) and social time (e.g. family bonding). Some caregivers used TV to distract picky children to eat more food. Child snacking and TV viewing were contextually paired by providing child-sized furniture (‘TV table’) specifically for snacking. Conclusions Low-income caregivers facilitate pre-schoolers’ snacking and TV viewing, which are described as routine, positive and useful for non-nutritive purposes. Messages to caregivers should encourage ‘snack-free’ TV viewing, healthy snack options and guidance for managing children’s behaviour without snacks or TV

Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Ethnic group · Geography · Obesity · Snack food · Snacking · Child Development and Digital Technology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Food Science