A Qualitative Evaluation of Social Aspects of Sugar-Rich Food and Drink Intake and Parental Strategies for Reductions

Bodil Just Christensen (), Sidse Marie Sidenius Bestle, Ellen Trolle, Anja Pia Biltoft-Jensen, Jeppe Matthiessen and Anne Dahl Lassen
Additional contact information
Bodil Just Christensen: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Sidse Marie Sidenius Bestle: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Ellen Trolle: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Anja Pia Biltoft-Jensen: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Jeppe Matthiessen: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Anne Dahl Lassen: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-20

Abstract: Danish children have a much larger intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks than recommended. This study aimed to (1) explore social aspects and practices of pre-school children’s intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks and (2) evaluate barriers and parental strategies to reduce their children’s intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks employed in connection with the 3.5-month family-centred intervention trial ‘Are you too sweet?’. Intervention components included communication of the recommended maximum intake and reduction strategies, supported by resources encouraging and facilitating behavioural changes. A random sample of families (n = 24) from intervention schools participated in post-intervention semi-structured interviews. A thematic content analysis was conducted, revealing three main domains of social practices: (1) ‘family treats’, including the weekly Danish concept ‘Friday sweets’, (2) ‘everyday treats’, such as sweet snacks in lunch packs, between-meals snacks and soft drink habits and (3) ‘socialized treats’, including treats at special occasions. Parents employed several strategies, most often substitution and portion-size reduction, but also limiting home availability. Families most frequently made changes that were easily adoptable and close to existing routines at home. In conclusion, the intervention components provided families with knowledge and strategies that facilitated behavioural changes towards reducing the intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks.

Keywords: family-based intervention; parenting; behavioural reduction strategies; dietary guidelines; Denmark; pre-school children; qualitative interviews (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11647/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11647/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11647-:d:915763

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().