Assessment of Home Food Environment among Healthy Weight and Overweight School-age Children

Objective: We examined the differences in the availability and visibility of home healthy and unhealthy foods and family meal frequency and quality between healthy weight and overweight/obese children. We also sought to determine the associations of demographic characteristics that reflect families' sociocultural and economic status with odds of children being overweight or obese. Methods: Forty-two overweight/ obese and 40 healthy weight children (9.8 +/- 2.6 years) and their parents participated in the study. In-home assessment for food availability and visibility was conducted and children's weight and height were measured by the researchers. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations of home food environment and family meal variables with children's weight status. Results: Lower frequency of family meals (p =.03), lower availability (p =.02) and kitchen (p =.049) and refrigerator visibility (p =.01) of home total unhealthy foods, and high availability of home fresh vegetables (p =.048) were significantly associated with children being overweight or obese after adjustment for covariates. Conclusions: Educating parents to create a healthier home food environment is important for both overweight/ obese and healthy weight children.