Association between Children’s Appetite Patterns and Maternal Feeding Practices

This study explored associations between children’s appetites and maternal feeding practices. The participants, 614 parents of 3- to 6-year-old children from kindergartens in Tokyo, Japan, completed self-administered questionnaires. The children’s appetites were measured using the Enjoyment of Food (EF) and Food Responsiveness (FR) scales of the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Using cluster analysis, we examined three appetite patterns (“both low,” “high EF and low FR,” and “both high”). The three appetite patterns were associated with children’s obesity index. The “both low” pattern was associated with the highest maternal pressure to eat. The “high EF and low FR” patterns were related to an established snack time. The “both high” pattern was associated with higher maternal instrumental feeding compared with the “high EF and low FR” types. The results of this study will facilitate the development of targeted interventions and better parental guidance on maternal feeding practices and their association with children’s eating behaviours.

Factors associated with intention to undergo specific health guidance among Japanese workers using health belief model

Objectives: To examine the factors associated with the intention to undergo “specific health guidance”. Methods: Self-reported questionnaire data were collected from 4861 health insurance union members of a company in Japan from August to September 2010. The information gathered included the intention to undergo “specific health guidance,” the Health Belief Model (HBM) subcomponents (perceived severity, susceptibility, benefit, and barriers), other factors related to undergoing specific health guidance, sex, and age. Perceived threat and net benefit were the main HBM components. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between intention and the main HBM components, i.e., perceived threat and net benefit. We used two models with intention as the dependent variable;Model 1 used four HBM subcomponents, and Model 2 used perceived threat and net benefit as independent variables. Results: A total of 3457 individuals answered all variables (response rate;71.1%). Perceived severity (OR: 1.83, 95%CI: 1.59 - 2.10), benefit (OR: 6.91, 95%CI: 5.94 - 8.04), barriers (OR: 0.11, 95%CI: 0.09 - 0.13), perceived threat (OR: 1.52, 95%CI: 1.31 - 1.76), and net benefit (OR: 11.28, 95%CI: 9.60 - 13.25) were related to intention (all p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that net benefit (OR: 11.23, 95%CI: 9.55 - 13.20) had a stronger correlation with intention than did perceived benefit (OR: 4.67, 95%CI: 3.95 - 5.51) and barriers (OR: 0.15, 95%CI: 0.13 - 0.18) (all p < 0.01). Conclusions: The results suggested that the main HBM components may predict health behavior better than the subcomponents. These results may effectively promote the benefits of, and reduce barriers to, programs aiming to increase participation in specific health guidance.

Motivations Underlying the Snack Choices of Japanese Junior High School Students: A Study Based on Cluster Analysis

The aims of the present study were to group junior high school students according to factors influencing their snack choice and identify differences between the characteristics and snack choice behaviors of the groups. An anonymous self-report questionnaire was administered to 1936 students (13 - 15 years old) in eight junior high schools in Tokyo, Japan. The students responded to the Snack Choice Questionnaire (SCQ) as well as questions concerning snacking behaviors, lifestyles, and demographics. Cluster analysis was applied to sort the sample according to SCQ scores. Each cluster’s characteristics were examined by gender using the χ2 test or the Kruskal-Wallis test with a Bonferroni adjustment. Participants were divided into four groups: high in all factors, low in all factors, low value in health, and value in health. The “value in health” group was composed of more girls than boys and the “low in all factors” group had fewer girls than boys. Those in the “high in all factors” and “low value in health” groups indicated that they consumed more snacks. Moreover, gender differences were revealed. By assessing the SCQ prior to providing nutrition education, we can obtain valuable information to make nutrition education planning.