Parent–child dietary intake resemblance in the United States: Evidence from a large representative survey

Abstract

We studied the association in dietary intakes and patterns between parents (aged 20–65 years) and their children (aged 2–18 years), using nationally representative data collected by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals 1994–96. We analyzed two 24-h recall dietary data for 1061 fathers, 1230 mothers, 1370 sons and 1322 daughters. All analyses adjusted for sampling design complexity. We assessed multivariate-adjusted parent–child correlations in selected nutrients, food groups and overall dietary quality assessed using the new USDA 2005 Healthy Eating Index score (HEI_n). The parent–child correlations were weak or moderate (0.20–0.33) for most intake measures. There were clear patterns of interaction with gender dyads in the intakes of calcium and dairy products (P < 0.05 for dyad × parental intake), whereby multivariate-adjusted correlations in mother–daughter or mother–child dyads were significantly stronger compared to their father–child counterparts. The reverse was true for multivariate-adjusted correlations in HEI_n. Hispanics and other ethnic groups had significantly stronger resemblance than Non-Hispanic whites and blacks in soft drinks and HEI_n. Resemblance in general was stronger among older children, though the reverse was true when considering agreement in HEI_n's upper quintile. The influence of family income and parental education on the resemblance was small. In conclusion, parent–child dietary resemblance in the US is relatively weak, and varies by nutrients and food groups, and by the types of parent–child dyad and population groups. Factors other than parental eating behaviors seem to play an important role in affecting American young people's dietary intake.

Introduction

Children and adolescents adopt certain dietary behaviors that previous studies suggested might track into adulthood (Mikkila et al., 2005, Wang et al., 2002). It is therefore important to promote healthy eating among the youth to prevent occurrence of chronic conditions later on in life, particularly obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. There are many ways by which promoting healthy eating among the youth can be achieved. However, one of the suggested means was to educate the parents and enhance their awareness about their own health as well as that of their children. This approach assumes that parents are gate keepers and role models for their children and that their nutrition beliefs and behaviors may actually influence that of their offspring.

However, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that dietary intake among the youth moderately resembles that of their parents, particularly in the United States. To date, around fifteen such studies have been conducted (Adelekan and Adeodu, 1997, Cullen et al., 2002, Feunekes et al., 1998, Feunekes et al., 1997, Fisher et al., 2002, French et al., 2001, Galloway et al., 2005, Laskarzewski et al., 1980, Oliveria et al., 1992, Park et al., 2004, Patterson et al., 1988, Perusse et al., 1988, Rossow and Rise, 1994, Stafleu et al., 1994, Vauthier et al., 1996), seven of which were carried out in non-representative samples within the United States, limiting the ability to produce national population estimates. A number of published studies support familial resemblance in dietary patterns (Adelekan and Adeodu, 1997, Laskarzewski et al., 1980, Oliveria et al., 1992, Patterson et al., 1988, Perusse et al., 1988, Rossow and Rise, 1994, Stafleu et al., 1994, Vauthier et al., 1996). On the other hand, other studies show that the association is either very weak or non-existent (Cullen et al., 2002, Feunekes et al., 1997, Feunekes et al., 1998). The weak or non-existent association is likely related to young people's eating patterns being affected by a myriad of complex factors, with the influence of parents and the family environment being only one of them (French et al., 2001, Popkin, 2006, Vereecken et al., 2005).

To our knowledge, previous research has not examined familial resemblance in dietary intake using nationally representative data in the United States. Most previous studies are based on small and local samples, and the possible regional and between-group differences in the resemblance between child and parental dietary intakes could affect our understanding of the relationships at the national level. It is crucial to assess such an interrelationship to guide future dietary intervention programs which to date have been strictly targeted towards schools among other non-household settings (Abdel Gawwad et al., 2006, Agozzino et al., 2007, Fahlman et al., 2008, Janega et al., 2004, Nicklas et al., 1997, Podrabsky et al., 2007). Although previous studies assessed nutrient and food group associations between family members, none have evaluated associations in overall diet quality.

The present study examined parent–child dietary pattern interrelationships, using nationally representative data in the United States, and thus produced national population estimates. We estimated correlations in selected nutrients and food groups and assessed the intra-familial clustering in healthy behaviors through adherence to dietary guidelines (i.e., overall dietary quality) between parent and child dyads. We also tested for effect modification of these associations by selected individual and household-level characteristics.