Abstract
Background
It is critical to promote healthy eating early in life.
Objective
The aim of this study was to examine diet quality and its predictors among Australian
preschool-aged children.
Design
Diet was assessed at age 3.5 years using multiple 24-hour recalls. Diet quality was
assessed using an adapted version of the Revised Children's Diet Quality Index (RC-DQI).
Potential predictors of diet quality were from questionnaires at age 3, 9, and 18
months and informed by the ecologic model of childhood overweight. Potential predictors
included child's sex, age of introduction to solid foods, breastfeeding status, food
acceptance, maternal nutrition knowledge, modeling of healthy eating, self-efficacy,
education, and home food availability.
Participants
Data from 244 children participating in the Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity, and
Nutrition Trial in 2008-2010 and follow-up data collection in 2011-2013 were examined.
Main outcome measures
Diet quality at age 3.5 years.
Statistical analyses performed
Bivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the relationship between diet
quality and each predictor. A multivariable logistic regression model accounting for
influences of covariates, treatment arm, and clustering by group tested associations
between diet quality and significant predictors from bivariate analyses.
Results
RC-DQI scores had a mean±standard deviation score of 62.8±8.3 points out of a maximum
of 85 points. Breastfeeding status (odds ratio [OR] 2.34, 95% CI 1.33 to 4.10) and
maternal modeling of healthy eating (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.03) were positively
associated with RC-DQI scores. Both breastfeeding status (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.63 to
5.85) and modeling (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.88) remained positively associated with
diet quality after adjustment for child age, body mass index z score, energy intake, treatment arm, and clustering.
Conclusions
Breastfeeding status and modeling of healthy eating were independently associated
with children's diet quality. Early intervention could assist mothers to practice
these behaviors to provide support for improving child diet quality.
Keywords
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Biography
L. J. Collins is an honors student, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Biography
K. E. Lacy is a lecturer in nutritional sciences, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Biography
K. J. Campbell is an associate professor, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Biography
S. A. McNaughton is an associate professor, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 11, 2016
Accepted:
December 11,
2015
Received:
March 12,
2015
Footnotes
Supplementary materials: Table 5 is available at www.andjrnl.org
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT The Melbourne InFANT program was funded by contributions by Deakin University, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (grant nos. ID1008879 and ID425801), the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. S. McNaughton is supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship Level 2, ID1104636 and was previously supported by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship (2011-2015, FT100100581).
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© 2016 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
