A Pilot Study to Explore the Correlation Between Parental Nutrition Literacy, Child Healthy Eating Index-2010 and Weight Status

Abstract

Objective: Improving diet quality and weight status of children and parents is important for promoting future health. The purpose of this study was to investigate parental nutrition literacy (PNL) in relation to child Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI) and parental body mass index (BMI). Design, Setting, and Participants: Forty-six parents of children aged 4-6 years consented to this cross sectional study. PNL was assessed using the Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument for Parents (NLAI-P) that contains 42 questions relating to 5 domains of nutrition literacy. Child HEI was determined from the average of two 24-hour dietary recalls. BMI was calculated with measured height and weight. Outcome Measures and Analysis: Parental NLAI-P was scored as a combined percent correct. The relationship among parental BMI, parental NLAI-P score, child BMI percentile for age and child HEI were measured by Spearman correlations and linear regression. Results: Average NLAI-P score was 83.6% (range=64.2-97.6; SD=8.7). Average child HEI was 53.5 (range=31-86; SD=14.1). Child HEI was related to parental NLAI-P score (r=0.324, p=0.03). Parental BMI, not child BMI percentile for age, had a significant inverse relationship with parental NLAI-P score (r=-0.456, p=0.001). There was a linear relationship between parental BMI and NLAI-P score (R2=0.157; p=0.004). For every 1% increase in parental NLAI-P score, BMI decreased by 0.26. Conclusions and Implications: This is the first investigation into measured PNL in relation to weight status and child diet quality. Results suggest that lower PNL may be a barrier for parents to build a healthful diet for their child. Larger population studies are needed to confirm this relationship