Familial concordance of dietary fat practices and intake

Abstract

This study examined parent and child dietary fat practices and child dietary fat intake. High- and low-fat practices and percentage of kilocalories from fat were obtained from food records completed by 132 students in the 4th to 6th grades. Parents completed three scales: meat modifications (MMOD); fat substitutions (FSUB); and fruit, juice, and vegetable practices (FJVP). A parent low-fat practices (PLFP) scale was created with the items matching the child low-fat practices (LFPs). Parent PLFP, FSUB, and FJVP were significantly correlated with child LFPs. Parent LFP was a significant predictor of child LFP. Family intervention programs targeting dietary fat behaviors should encourage use of low-fat dietary behaviors.