As the rate of childhood obesity grows across the world, understanding the eating habits of children takes on more urgency. Unfortunately, understanding a child's diet requires much more than simply observing what she eats. A child's intricate eating habits develop through a web of outside forces. Social, economic, family and income variables are all influencing factors in children's diets.
Family Factors
Since parents provide food for their household, they have a huge influence on their child's diet and eating habits. If parents stock the pantry with chips, cookies, candy and sugary sweets, children become accustomed to these foods. However, if the refrigerator is stocked with fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy foods, children get used to these foods instead. Keep in mind, however, that a parent's eating habits also influence their child's diet. A parent cannot simply feed healthy foods to her daughter, then eat unhealthy foods in front of her. Over time, the child may begin to demand or request the foods her parents eat.
Social Influence
Even at a young age, peers and friends significantly affect a child's diet. When children spend time with peers at home, school or daycare, they pay close attention to what their friends eat. In fact, a study published in journal "Health Education Research" in 2000 noted that "students reported peer influence as a reason for not eating both fruit, juice and vegetables and low-fat foods."
Availability
The availability of foods in a child's area and home play a significant role in diet. Food availability depends heavily on geographical location and income. A high-income family generally has a much greater opportunity to purchase healthy foods than a low-income family. If your family is on a tight budget, using a dollar toward a double cheeseburger is significantly more appealing than using a dollar for a bunch of broccoli. Similarly, a family that lives in or near a big city will likely have a variety of healthy retail options, particularly compared to a family that lives in a country setting.
Marketing
Marketing plays an important role in nearly every aspect of life, from the cars we drive to the clothes we wear and the foods we eat. In fact, a study published on the Focus on the Family website reported that "television strongly influences what children under 12 eat." The site adds that "kids who watch more than three hours of TV per day are 50 percent more likely to be obese than kids who watch fewer than two hours." But it's not just television. Magazines, radio commercials, food packaging and store displays also influence children. And since marketers focus on junk foods and fast-food restaurants, these unhealthy foods can look glamorous and tempting to youngsters.
References
- Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: Improving Childrens' Diet
- "Health Education Research"; Social--environmental influences on children's diets; Karen Weber Cullen; 2000
- Focus On the Family: How TV Affects Your Child's Diet and Weight
- Medscape Today: Childhood Eating Behaviors: Developmental and Sociocultural Considerations
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: The Diets of America's Children: Influences of Dining Out, Household Characteristics, and Nutrition Knowledge
