|
LESS FRUIT FOR TODDLERS WHEN MUM SMOKES
29 April 2007 - University of Bristol
| What a child eats is highly influenced by whether the mother smokes, according to research published by Bristol's Children of the 90s study. Children of smokers ate less fruit and fibre, but more crisps, chips and sweetened drinks than children of non-smokers. The level of the mother's education is another major factor affecting diet, and to a lesser extent the mother's age. |
As part of the study, researchers at the University of Bristol collected information on the diet of over 1000 children at 18 months of age. The results showed The children of smokers had significantly higher intakes of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and starch, and lower intakes of fibre (or non-starch polysaccharides)
They were also less likely to have eaten poultry, buns, cakes and puddings, wholemeal bread and fruit
They were more likely to have drunk sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
However, the factor with the most influence on a child's diet was maternal education. When the researchers divided the mothers into those with CSE or below (low), those with O-Levels (Medium) and A-Levels or above (High) they found: Intakes of fibre and most vitamins and minerals increased significantly with increasing maternal education
Children of more highly educated mothers ate chocolate, crisps and white bread less often
They consumed wholemeal bread, fruit and fruit juice more often the higher the mothers education
The report says: "Consumption of most of the food groups investigated was associated with maternal educational level. Mean intakes of fish, cheese, yoghurt/fromage frais, wholemeal bread, breakfast cereal, fruit and fruit juice rose with increasing educational level, while intakes of meat products, sugar confectionery, chocolate, crisps/snacks, white bread, chips/ fried potatoes, tea and diet soft drinks fell." Maternal age also affected diet. Compared to children of mothers aged 30+ at delivery, children of mothers aged 25-29 years were less likely to have consumed buns/cakes/puddings, wholemeal bread and fruit juice and more likely to have eaten crisps/snacks. The report comments: "We have found that even in the preschool years, the children of smokers consume a diet that is different from the children of nonsmokers, and is further away from current recommendations on healthy eating. It is possible that these dietary differences may explain some of the adverse health consequences associated with passive smoking by children." Children of the 90s nutritionist Imogen Rogers said: "Several studies have shown that adult smokers eat differently from non-smokers, even when factors such as educational level are taken into account. This is one of the first studies to show that the children of smokers are also fed differently, even at this very young age. "These results also show that the children of less educated mothers are less likely to eat diets that follow the healthy eating guidelines. Particular efforts should be made to provide information on healthy eating to this group."
http://www.bris.ac.uk
About: University of Bristol
The University College of Bristol opened in 1876, after six years of discussions and controversy, in a bid to bring university culture to the provinces. It was the first college in the country to admit men and women on an equal footing.The University’s Research and Enterprise Development (RED) division was launched in 2000 to stimulate and support an entrepreneurial culture and encourage the growth of technology-based business. 2003 saw the completion of the Dorothy Hodgkin building, named after the University’s fifth Chancellor. The £18 million building is dedicated to research in neuroendocrinology. 2003 also saw the opening of the University’s £5 million Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health. Work on a new, state-of-the-art engineering building is due to be completed in early 2004. The £20 million BLADE project (Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering) will bring together the Engineering Faculty’s six departments to establish Europe’s most advanced dynamics engineering research facilities. |
More News:
• For April 2007
• From University of Bristol
• For Superconductors
|
