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Association of Fathers’ Income and Education Level with Childhood Obesity Risk Factors in Preschool Age Children
Author(s) -
Vollmer Rachel Lynn,
Kari Adamsons,
Foster Jaime S,
Mobley Amy R
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.276.2
Subject(s) - ethnic group , childhood obesity , demography , association (psychology) , obesity , family income , medicine , low income , developmental psychology , psychology , perception , household income , overweight , endocrinology , geography , sociology , psychotherapist , archaeology , neuroscience , socioeconomics , economic growth , anthropology , economics
The aims of this study were to determine if certain characteristics (income and educational level) of fathers with preschool age children were associated with 1) paternal feeding practices, 2) child BMI z‐score, 3) child diet quality, 4) paternal concern for and perception of child weight, and 5) paternal perception of the role of the father in the family (ROF) and at mealtimes (ROFM). Biological fathers of preschoolers (n=150) were interviewed individually to measure feeding practices (Child Feeding Questionnaire), child diet quality (24‐hour dietary recall, Healthy Eating Index‐2010), role of the father in the family and at mealtimes (Role of the Father and Role of the Father at Mealtimes Questionnaire). Each preschool child's height and weight was also measured and BMI z‐score calculated. Linear regression was used to test each study aim. Most fathers in this sample had either some college education (31.3%) or a 4‐year degree or higher (50.7%) and were low‐income (52.7%). Being a low‐income father, above and beyond education level, race, and ethnicity, was associated with higher pressure to eat (β = −.697, p = .007), higher child BMI z‐score (β = −.483, p = .034), and higher perceived child weight (β = −.270, p = .001). Education level, above and beyond income level, race, and ethnicity, was negatively associated with ROF (β = −.818, p = .037) and ROFM (β = −1.517, p = .006) scores, indicating that fathers who had lower education levels thought the father should be more involved in the family and at mealtimes compared to fathers with higher education levels. Higher education levels were also associated with higher child diet quality scores (β = 5.263, p = .003), while controlling for income, race, and ethnicity. These results indicate that low‐income fathers and fathers with a lower education level may benefit from interventions or policy changes focusing on positive child feeding practices and providing a healthy diet for their preschool age child, respectively, that could, in turn, positively influence child weight status in this higher risk population. Support or Funding Information University of Connecticut Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention