Exploring the Relationship of Parental and Home Influence on the Dietary Intake of Saudi Arabian Children Aged 6-12 Years
Childhood obesity and being overweight is increasing in Saudi Arabia. Related literature has shown that children have increased velocity of weight gain during the elementary school years. Although the literature supports parental influence on the dietary intake of children, little is known in Saudi Arabia about children’s dietary patterns on parental preferences and beliefs. This research explores the decision-making factors of parents. A mixed methods design was employed. Grounded theory methodology assessed aspects of social interaction related to feeding of this age group. Quantitative measures assessed consumption of foods identified by the literature as obesogenic, fruits, and vegetables consumed at home and packed in the school lunch box. Anthropomorphic measurements, parental identification of obesity recognition silhouettes, and certain parental eating habits were assessed. A sample of 20 parents of children identified as being overweight or obese at a large university teaching hospital clinic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia completed questionnaires and participated in a guided interview. All children were from urban or suburban nuclear families. Data indicated that influences on feeding decision-making were mediated by a variety of social factors. The core category emerging from data analysis was: AGAINST THE TIDE signifying the multiple powerful social factors which influenced the feeding environment setting and effect on the feeding decisions made by mothers. Themes which emerged were: PERSONAL INFLUENCE, MICRO-ENVIRONMENTAL, AND MACRO-ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. Dietary data suggests that food intake of fruits and vegetables was nearly at recommended levels and obesogenic foods such as nutrition scarce foods (NNF) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) were consumed as additions rather than replacements, serving as additional contributors to kilocalorie intake. Parental recognition of obesity and being overweight was generally inaccurate. Obesogenic feeding patterns, such as use of media during meals and late night eating, were practiced. Child participation in shopping, preparing, or serving food were not popular. Conclusions drawn from this study indicate that powerful factors which affect and often overwhelm the efforts of parents in this setting are normatively supported by the host society which places family and social cohesion in a primary position, making sound feeding decision-making by parents for their children difficult. Therefore, normative change in feeding priorities and social priorities may be necessary in addressing the increasing obesity and being overweight among children in this population.
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