“My Tummy Tells Me” Cognitions, Barriers and Supports of Parents and School-Age Children for Appropriate Portion Sizes

Authors

Kaitlyn M. Eck, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/PiscatawayFollow
Colleen L. Delaney, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway
Mirian P. Leary, West Virginia University
Oluremi A. Famodou, University of Florida
Melissa D. Olfert, West Virginia UniversityFollow
Karla P. Shelnutt, University of Florida
Carol Bryd-Bredbenner, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5724-2524

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3883-0782

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6219-9383

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6324-7305

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6686-3891

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3799-9212

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8010-3987

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2018

College/Unit

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Department/Program/Center

Animal and Nutritional Sciences

Abstract

Larger portion sizes have increased in tandem with the rise in obesity. Elucidation of the cognitions of children and parents related to portion size is needed to inform the development of effective obesity prevention programs. This study examined cognitions of parents (n = 36) and their school-age children (6 to 11 years; n = 35) related to portion sizes via focus group discussions. Parents and children believed controlling portion sizes promoted health and weight control. Some parents felt controlling portions was unnecessary, particularly if kids were a healthy weight because kids can self-regulate intake. Barriers to serving appropriate portions identified by parents focused largely on kids getting enough, rather than too much, to eat. Parents also identified lack of knowledge of age-appropriate portions as a barrier. Facilitators of portion control cited by parents included purchasing pre-portioned products and using small containers to serve food. Children relied on cues from parents (e.g., amount of food parent served them) and internal hunger/satiety cues to regulate intake but found it difficult to avoid overeating highly palatable foods, at restaurants, and when others were overeating. Results suggest obesity prevention interventions should aim to improve portion sizes cognitions, barrier management, and use of facilitators, in families with school-age children.

Digital Commons Citation

Eck, Kaitlyn M.; Delaney, Colleen L.; Leary, Mirian P.; Famodou, Oluremi A.; Olfert, Melissa D.; Shelnutt, Karla P.; and Bryd-Bredbenner, Carol, "“My Tummy Tells Me” Cognitions, Barriers and Supports of Parents and School-Age Children for Appropriate Portion Sizes" (2018). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 1390.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/1390

Source Citation

Eck, K., Delaney, C., Leary, M., Famodou, O., Olfert, M., Shelnutt, K., & Byrd-Bredbenner, C. (2018). “My Tummy Tells Me” Cognitions, Barriers and Supports of Parents and School-Age Children for Appropriate Portion Sizes. Nutrients, 10(8), 1040. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10081040

Comments

1. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).