The Effects of Nutrition Attitude and Behaviors of the Families on Nutrition Status in Children at Different Socioeconomic Status

Abstract

Aim: This study is conducted to determine the attitudes and behaviours of parents coming from different socioeconomic conditions, towards the weight of their children and nutrition. Subjects and Methods: Sample was consisted of a total of 632 (male=299, 47.3%; female=333, 52.7%) children, aged 6-10 years from primary schools in different socioeconomic conditions and 441, 69.8% mothers and 191, 30.2% fathers. Children’s anthropometric measurements were assessed, parents were applied child feeding questionnaire (CFQ). Child feeding behaviours of parents affecting their child’s anthropometric measurements were evaluated. Results: Mean age (±SD) of male and female parents were 36.9±5.13 and 34.3±5.21 years, respectively. There are differences between children’s body mass index (BMI) groups with parents’ “Perceived parent weight”, “Perceived child weight” and “Monitoring” which are subfactors of child feeding questionnaire. As the BMI of parents in different socioeconomic status increases, BMI increases in children. Conclusion: Parents should be educated about healthy food cooking, healthy food consumption, child nutrition at certain intervals.