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Perceptions, similarities and differences between parents of pre-school aged children with ‘healthy’ verses ‘unhealthy’ diets
Oral Abstracts
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Understanding early pregnancy health behaviours among overweight and obese women at risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
Perceptions, similarities and differences between parents of pre-school aged children with ‘healthy’ verses ‘unhealthy’ diets
C.L. Harrison 1,2,∗ , C.B. Lombard 1 , H.J. Teede 1,2
J. Peters 1,∗ , N. Sinn 1 , K. Campbell 2 , J. Lynch 3
1 Jean
1 School
Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia 2 Diabetes Unit, Southern Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia Aim: To assess physical activity levels and weight gain in early pregnancy and explore associations with development of gestational diabetes mellitus and health behaviours in high risk women. Methods: This prospective cohort study was a sub-study of a larger randomised controlled trial. At baseline (12—15 weeks gestation), 59 women (mean age: 33.7 ± 4.7 years and BMI: 31.0 ± 6.4 kg/m2 ) at high-risk of developing GDM based on known risk factors, completed anthropometric assessment (weight, height, waist and hip measurement) and physical activity assessment (Yamax pedometer and the self reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire). At 26—28 weeks gestation all women completed GDM screening and repeated baseline measurements. Results: By 28 weeks gestation, there was a high GDM prevalence of 25%. Weight gain in overweight (25—29.9 kg/m2 ) and obese (>30.0 kg/m2 ) women exceeded minimum total weight gain recommendations set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM; mean gain of 6.7 ± 3.6 kg, p < 0.001). Physical activity levels measured by pedometer significantly declined over pregnancy (5,288 ± 2490 steps/day to 4114 ± 2269 steps/day, respectively, p < 0.001). Despite reduced activity levels, increased weight gain and high GDM incidence many women did not perceive risk and were confident in their ability to control weight. A significant association with physical activity, weight and GDM outcome was not reached. Conclusion: Overweight and obese pregnant women at risk for developing GDM demonstrate excessive weight gain and a reduced level of physical activity observed from early pregnancy to 28 weeks gestation. Results highlight the need for further research, education and targeted approaches for intervention in women at risk for developing GDM in pregnancy. Conflict of interest: None.
of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia 2 School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3 Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia Aim: Recent population surveys on Australian children’s diets have recorded alarmingly low rates of fruit and vegetable consumption. Young children rely largely on parents to provide their diets. Factors that influence child diet within the home environment include parenting styles, parent feeding practices, parent nutrition knowledge, and food availability. This qualitative research compared and contrasted similarities and differences between parents of children with ‘healthy’ verses ‘unhealthy’ diets based on core food consumption, exploring perceptions, perceived influences, and facilitators and barriers when providing healthy foods for young children. Methods: Three ‘healthy’ and three ‘unhealthy’ focus groups were recruited ranging from two to five participants per group (N = 20). Transcripts were systematically scrutinised for key concepts and themes. NVivo 9 software was used to identify, organize and code the data according to open coding method of thematic analysis. Results: Similarities across groups included the intention to provide healthy foods with most parents involving their child in some level of meal preparation. Main differences between the groups included ‘healthy’ parents having partner support in dietary provision, whereas the ‘unhealthy’ group did not; many of the ‘healthy’ group discussed considering their child’s daily physical activity when providing food options, whereas a majority of the ‘unhealthy’ group disguised healthy foods for their child and reported experiencing ‘stress’ over their ‘fussy eaters’. Conclusion: The information gathered from this exploratory research is unique and highlights new and key areas for future investigation and inclusion in interventions to promote healthy diets for young children. Conflict of interest: None.
doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2011.08.106 doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2011.08.107
S27
O28
O29
Understanding early pregnancy health behaviours among overweight and obese women at risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
Perceptions, similarities and differences between parents of pre-school aged children with ‘healthy’ verses ‘unhealthy’ diets
C.L. Harrison 1,2,∗ , C.B. Lombard 1 , H.J. Teede 1,2
J. Peters 1,∗ , N. Sinn 1 , K. Campbell 2 , J. Lynch 3
1 Jean
1 School
Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia 2 Diabetes Unit, Southern Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia Aim: To assess physical activity levels and weight gain in early pregnancy and explore associations with development of gestational diabetes mellitus and health behaviours in high risk women. Methods: This prospective cohort study was a sub-study of a larger randomised controlled trial. At baseline (12—15 weeks gestation), 59 women (mean age: 33.7 ± 4.7 years and BMI: 31.0 ± 6.4 kg/m2 ) at high-risk of developing GDM based on known risk factors, completed anthropometric assessment (weight, height, waist and hip measurement) and physical activity assessment (Yamax pedometer and the self reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire). At 26—28 weeks gestation all women completed GDM screening and repeated baseline measurements. Results: By 28 weeks gestation, there was a high GDM prevalence of 25%. Weight gain in overweight (25—29.9 kg/m2 ) and obese (>30.0 kg/m2 ) women exceeded minimum total weight gain recommendations set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM; mean gain of 6.7 ± 3.6 kg, p < 0.001). Physical activity levels measured by pedometer significantly declined over pregnancy (5,288 ± 2490 steps/day to 4114 ± 2269 steps/day, respectively, p < 0.001). Despite reduced activity levels, increased weight gain and high GDM incidence many women did not perceive risk and were confident in their ability to control weight. A significant association with physical activity, weight and GDM outcome was not reached. Conclusion: Overweight and obese pregnant women at risk for developing GDM demonstrate excessive weight gain and a reduced level of physical activity observed from early pregnancy to 28 weeks gestation. Results highlight the need for further research, education and targeted approaches for intervention in women at risk for developing GDM in pregnancy. Conflict of interest: None.
of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia 2 School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia 3 Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia Aim: Recent population surveys on Australian children’s diets have recorded alarmingly low rates of fruit and vegetable consumption. Young children rely largely on parents to provide their diets. Factors that influence child diet within the home environment include parenting styles, parent feeding practices, parent nutrition knowledge, and food availability. This qualitative research compared and contrasted similarities and differences between parents of children with ‘healthy’ verses ‘unhealthy’ diets based on core food consumption, exploring perceptions, perceived influences, and facilitators and barriers when providing healthy foods for young children. Methods: Three ‘healthy’ and three ‘unhealthy’ focus groups were recruited ranging from two to five participants per group (N = 20). Transcripts were systematically scrutinised for key concepts and themes. NVivo 9 software was used to identify, organize and code the data according to open coding method of thematic analysis. Results: Similarities across groups included the intention to provide healthy foods with most parents involving their child in some level of meal preparation. Main differences between the groups included ‘healthy’ parents having partner support in dietary provision, whereas the ‘unhealthy’ group did not; many of the ‘healthy’ group discussed considering their child’s daily physical activity when providing food options, whereas a majority of the ‘unhealthy’ group disguised healthy foods for their child and reported experiencing ‘stress’ over their ‘fussy eaters’. Conclusion: The information gathered from this exploratory research is unique and highlights new and key areas for future investigation and inclusion in interventions to promote healthy diets for young children. Conflict of interest: None.
doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2011.08.106 doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2011.08.107