A new study from the University of Glasgow that analyses information from over 2000 11 year old children and their parents (in 1984-5) reveals no evidence that number of parents in the household or family meals are associated with children's diets, while maternal employment is associated with better diets.

The children involved in the study were part of the Medical Research Council's West of Scotland 11 to 16 Study, a study of health and lifestyles, which has followed them since age 11.

Information from the children was used to categorise them on the basis of 'healthy eating' (based on the balance of high fat compared with high fibre food items in their diets) and 'unhealthy snacking' (based on the consumption of sweets or chocolate, biscuits or cake, crisps and fizzy drinks). Parents provided information on the family and household, the mother's qualifications and whether or not she was working.

Both 'less healthy eating' and 'unhealthy snacking' were more likely among:

boys 60% of boys compared with 53% of girls were classified as 'less healthy eaters'

children living in more deprived areas - 45% of those from 'least', 57% from 'mid' and 65% from 'most' deprived areas were classified as 'less healthy eaters'

children whose mothers had fewer qualifications - 64% of children whose mothers had no qualifications, 54% of those whose mothers had school or non-advanced qualifications and 41% of those whose mothers had advanced qualifications were classified as 'less healthy eaters'

'Less healthy eating' was also more likely among those whose mothers were full-time home-makers (63% of these children were classified as 'less healthy' eaters) than those whose mothers worked either part-time (52% 'less healthy eaters') or full-time (55% 'less healthy eaters'). The difference in respect of mothers who worked full-time could be accounted for by the fact that they tended to live in less deprived areas and have more qualif
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Contact: Jenny Murray
jennifer.murray@admin.gla.ac.uk
University of Glasgow
18-Apr-2005


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