How does the amount of processed food in family diets relate to children’s and parents’ health?
How does the amount of processed food in family diets relate to children’s and parents’ health?
This study examined how different levels of food processing were associated with measures of obesity among Canadian parents and preschool-aged children, highlighting the importance of family dietary patterns in supporting healthy growth.
What We Did and Why We Did It
We conducted a cross-sectional study with 365 parents and 267 preschool-aged children (1.5–5 years old) from 242 families participating in the Guelph Family Health Study. Families completed dietary assessments using the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24), and foods were classified according to their level of processing using the NOVA food classification system. Researchers examined the relationship between intake of unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods with measures of body composition, including BMI, waist circumference, body weight, and percent body fat.
Ultra-processed foods make up a large proportion of diets in many countries and have been linked to increased risk of obesity and chronic diseases in adults. However, less is known about how food processing relates to health outcomes among young children, especially within the family environment. Since parents influence children’s eating habits and food choices, understanding dietary patterns among both parents and children can help inform family-based approaches to promote healthy eating.
What We Found
What We Can Learn From This
Ultra-processed foods contributed the largest proportion of energy intake among both parents and children, accounting for 44.3% of parents’ diets and 41.3% of children’s diets. Among parents, higher intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with higher BMI, greater waist circumference, and higher body weight. In contrast, greater intake of unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with lower waist circumference and body weight among parents. Among children, ultra-processed food intake was not significantly associated with measures of obesity, although higher intake of unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with lower waist circumference. Children’s diets were similar to their parents’ diets, highlighting the influence of the family food environment on children’s eating patterns.
The foods available and consumed within families may play an important role in shaping children’s dietary habits and future health. Encouraging families to include more minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other whole foods, while reducing reliance on ultra-processed foods may support healthier eating patterns. Family-based nutrition strategies that involve both parents and children may be especially effective for promoting long-term healthy behaviours.
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