Associations between the home food environment and obesity-promoting eating behaviors in adolescence

Objective: This study examines relationships between multiple aspects of the home food environment and obesity-promoting characteristics of 12- to 13-year-old adolescents\u27 diets, specifically frequency of consumption of high-energy fluids, sweet snacks, savory snacks, and take-out foods.Research Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 347 adolescents 12 to 13 years of age and their parents. Data were collected via self-completed surveys. The adolescents\u27 diets were assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire derived from existing age-appropriate National Nutrition Survey data. An extensive range of domains within the home food environment were assessed. Bivariate linear regression analyses were run split by gender. Forced entry multiple linear regression analyses (adjusting for all variables significant in bivariate analyses as well as for maternal education) were also performed, stratified by the sex of the child.Results: The influence of mothers, either as models for eating behaviors or as the providers of food, was pervasive. Mothers\u27 intake of high-energy fluids (p = 0.003), sweet snacks (p = 0.010), savory snacks (p = 0.008), and take-out food (p = 0.007) was positively associated with boys\u27 intake of all these foods. In addition, mothers\u27 intake of high-energy fluids was positively associated with daughters\u27 consumption of these drinks (p = 0.025). Furthermore, availability of unhealthy foods at home was positively associated with girls\u27 sweet snack (p = 0.001), girls\u27 savory snack (p < 0.001), boys\u27 savory snack (p = 0.002), and, in the bivariate analyses, girls\u27 high-energy fluid consumption (p = 0.002).Discussion: This study of home food environment influences on adolescent diet highlights the pervasive influence of mothers in determining adolescents\u27 obesity-promoting eating, providing direction for obesity prevention strategies and future research.