Nutrition Research
Volume 30, Issue 2, 2010, Pages 104-109

Eating habits of preschool children with high migrant status in Switzerland according to a new food frequency questionnaire (Article)

Ebenegger V. , Marques-Vidal P. , Barral J. , Kriemler S. , Puder J.J. , Nydegger A.*
  • a Institute of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, University of Lausanne, Bâtiments administratifs de Vidy, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • b Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • c Institute of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, University of Lausanne, Bâtiments administratifs de Vidy, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • d Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland
  • e Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • f Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Lausanne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland

Abstract

Assessment of eating habits in young children from multicultural backgrounds has seldom been conducted. Our objectives were to study the reproducibility and the results of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed to assess changes in eating habits of preschool children with a high migrant population, in the context of a multidisciplinary multilevel lifestyle intervention. Three kindergarten classes (53% from migrant backgrounds) in French-speaking Switzerland were randomly selected and included 16 girls and 28 boys (mean age ± SD, 5.4 ± 0.7 years). The FFQ was filled out twice within a 4-week interval by the parents. Spearman rank correlations between the first and the second FFQ for the 39 items of the food questions were as follows: low (. r < 0.50) for 8 (7 P < .05 and 1 nonsignificant), moderate (0.50 < r < 0.70) for 22 (all P < .01), and high (. r > 0.70) for 9 (all P < .01). In addition, 28 of 39 intraclass correlation coefficients were high (>0.50, all P < .01). Eighty-six percent of the children ate breakfast at home daily, but only 67% had lunch at home. The percentages of children eating at least once a week in front of the TV were as follows: 50% for breakfast, 33% for lunch, 38% for dinner, and 48% for snacks. Forty percent of children asked their parents to buy food previously seen in advertisements and ate fast food between once a week and once a month. Children generally consumed foods with a high-energy content. The FFQ yielded good test-retest reproducibility for most items of the food questions and gave relevant findings about the eating habits of preschool children in areas with a high migrant population. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.

Author Keywords

Food questionnaire Reproducibility Migrants dietary habits Preschool children

Index Keywords

lifestyle controlled clinical trial multicenter study health promotion clinical trial television Statistics, Nonparametric human child nutrition controlled study obesity priority journal diet feeding behavior test retest reliability food frequency questionnaire Humans kindergarten fast food Energy Intake Fast Foods Advertising as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female Child, Preschool reproducibility eating habit Food Preferences high risk population Reproducibility of Results cultural factor Article Questionnaires migration Food Habits food intake Diet Surveys Switzerland Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77951626787&doi=10.1016%2fj.nutres.2010.01.006&partnerID=40&md5=0b32825758690923b5916c640341f15f
DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2010.01.006
ISSN: 02715317
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English