Survey to Assess Home Environments for Healthy Eating and Activity in Overweight Children
Author Information
Author(s): Gattshall Michelle L, Shoup Jo Ann, Marshall Julie A, Crane Lori A, Estabrooks Paul A
Primary Institution: Kaiser Permanente of Colorado
Hypothesis
The study aims to develop and test a reliable and valid survey instrument to assess home environments that support physical activity and healthy eating in overweight children.
Conclusion
The Home Environment Survey (HES) shows promise as a valid and reliable tool for assessing the physical and social home environment related to children's physical activity and eating habits.
Supporting Evidence
- The HES demonstrated acceptable internal consistency for all scales except for fruit and vegetable accessibility.
- Test-retest reliability was high for all scales, indicating stability over time.
- Parental role modeling and policies were significantly correlated with children's physical activity and eating habits.
Takeaway
This study created a survey to help understand how home environments can encourage kids to eat healthy and be active.
Methodology
Parents of overweight children completed the Home Environment Survey and concurrent behavioral assessments, while children wore accelerometers for one week.
Potential Biases
The majority of primary caregivers were mothers, which may introduce bias in reporting home environment factors.
Limitations
The study's sample was limited to children with a Body Mass Index at or above the 85th percentile, and it cannot be generalized to all populations.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 8 to 12, 54% boys, 63% white, 24% Hispanic; primary caregivers were predominantly female with an average age of 40.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website