Dietary behavior of primary school children in Haidian District of Beijing and its relationship with family environment / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To understand the status of dietary behaviors among urban primary school children, to explore the relationship with the family environment in order to provide a basis for adopting the intervention measures and reducing the occurrence of child dietary behavior problems.@*Methods@#A questionnaire survey was conducted among 507 children of grade 5 randomized selected through dustering method from 4 in primary schools in Haidian district，as well as their parents.@*Results@#About 80.3% of the surveyed children reported the rate of frequency consumptions of vegetables 6-7 days per week. The frequency of consumption of fruits was lower than that of vegetables（67.8%）. The frequency of consumption of meat, eggs, milk and beans was lower（the rate of 6-7 days per week was 57.5%,45.3%,60.0%,17.3%, respectively）, and the number of children who did not eat beans was the highest(9.9%). The multiple linear regression revealed that parents’ dietary behaviors（β=0.21）, parents’ restrictions on snacks（β=0.21）, family cohesion（β=0.15）, and family monthly income（β=0.13） were promoting factors for children’s good dietary behaviors. The stock of snacks was a risk factor for children’s good dietary behaviors (β=-0.11)(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Dietary behavior of primary school children in urban area was influenced by family environment factors, especially dietary environment in family. Family environment factors could promote children’s dietary behaviors through parental support and modelling. Giving the parents intervention on nutrition and healthy diet, normalizing the family dietary environment are conducive to children’s dietary behaviors.