Influencia de los padres sobre las preferencias alimentarias en niños de dos escuelas primarias con diferente estrato económico: estudio ESFUERSO / Parental influence in children's food preferences: the ESFUERSO study in two primary schools with different socioeconomic gradients

Objetivo: La mayoría de programas de prevención de obesidad en escuelas primarias fracasan. En este estudio investigamos la influencia de las preferencias alimentarias de los padres en las de sus hijos, de acuerdo con el sexo de los padres y el estrato económico de la familia. Consideramos que esta información será una herramienta útil para elaborar programas de prevención. Material y métodos: Participaron 300 niños de una escuela primaria del Estado (EPE) y 368 de una escuela privada (EPP). Cada pareja de padre y madre contestó dos cuestionarios: uno acerca de ellos mismos y otro sobre sus hijos. El cuestionario incluyó preguntas sobre el consumo de alimentos específicos, analizados por correlación canónica (CC). Resultados: Las escuelas estudiadas no mostraron diferencias en el índice de masa corporal de los padres y sus hijos, sólo en las madres (EPP 24 ± 4 vs. EPE 26 ± 4, p < 0.001). La CC indicó que las madres influyen 30% en las preferencias de sus hijos; esta asociación fue mayor en EPE. La preferencia por alimentos ricos en hidratos de carbono simples se observó sólo en los niños, sin mayor influencia de los padres. Los refrescos regulares mostraron alta preferencia en ambas escuelas; el refresco de dieta es preferido por EPP, pero ambas escuelas prefieren no dar refresco de dieta a los niños. Conclusiones: Existen diferencias de estrato económico y sexo de los padres, que influyen en las preferencias alimentarias de los niños. Los programas de prevención de obesidad deberán considerar las preferencias alimentarias de los padres para aumentar el impacto en los niños.

OBJECTIVE: Programs aimed at obesity prevention among elementary school age children have failed. In the present study, we analyzed the association between parental and child food preferences and determined whether this is influenced by the parents' gender and socio-economic status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We invited 300 children from a state elementary school (SES) and368 from a private middle class school (PMCS) to participate. A questionnaire was given to each parent to complete together with another questionnaire asking questions about their child. The questionnaire included items on consumption of specific foods. Canonical correlation coefficients (CC) were calculated to assess the association between children's food preferences and their parents' food preferences. RESULTS: Mothers from the PMCS group had lower Body Mass Index (BMIs) than mothers from the SES (24 +/- 4 vs. 26 +/- 4, p < 0.001). Fathers and children from the PMCS group were taller and weighed more than those from the SES but their BMI's were similar. CC indicate that mothers influence their children's food preferences by 30%, and this association is stronger in the SES group. Preference for simple carbohydrates was observed among children without parental supervision. Regular soft drinks were preferred by children in both schools, but diet sodas were more common among PMCS. All families avoided giving their children diet soft drinks. CONCLUSIONS: Socio-economic status and gender diferentially influence children's meal preferences. Obsesity prevention programs should take into account parental food preferences as an important factor that determines obesity during childhood. We expect that our results will contribute to the design of more appropriate prevention programs.

[Parental influence in children's food preferences. The ESFUERSO study in two primary schools with different socioeconomic gradients]. / Influencia de los padres sobre las preferencias alimentarias en niños de dos escuelas primarias con diferente estrato económico. Estudio ESFUERSO.

OBJECTIVE: Programs aimed at obesity prevention among elementary school age children have failed. In the present study, we analyzed the association between parental and child food preferences and determined whether this is influenced by the parents' gender and socio-economic status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We invited 300 children from a state elementary school (SES) and368 from a private middle class school (PMCS) to participate. A questionnaire was given to each parent to complete together with another questionnaire asking questions about their child. The questionnaire included items on consumption of specific foods. Canonical correlation coefficients (CC) were calculated to assess the association between children's food preferences and their parents' food preferences. RESULTS: Mothers from the PMCS group had lower Body Mass Index (BMIs) than mothers from the SES (24 +/- 4 vs. 26 +/- 4, p < 0.001). Fathers and children from the PMCS group were taller and weighed more than those from the SES but their BMI's were similar. CC indicate that mothers influence their children's food preferences by 30%, and this association is stronger in the SES group. Preference for simple carbohydrates was observed among children without parental supervision. Regular soft drinks were preferred by children in both schools, but diet sodas were more common among PMCS. All families avoided giving their children diet soft drinks. CONCLUSIONS: Socio-economic status and gender diferentially influence children's meal preferences. Obsesity prevention programs should take into account parental food preferences as an important factor that determines obesity during childhood. We expect that our results will contribute to the design of more appropriate prevention programs.

Genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia post-transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to identify factors associated with hyperlipidemia post-transplantation in a Hispanic population. METHODS: From 1985 to 1999, a kidney graft survival longer than 3 months occurred in 293 cases at the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición. Most of the patients living in Mexico City were included (n = 83). The evaluation included a questionnaire, blood samples, and assessment of body composition and dietary habits. As many as possible first-degree relatives were studied. RESULTS: Women had higher values of cholesterol (236 +/- 51 versus 215 +/-41; P < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (147 +/- 42 versus 131 +/- 34; P = 0.05), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (57.3 +/- 14 versus 47.9 +/- 14; P = 0.002) and high-density lipoprotein-2 cholesterol. Isolated hypercholesterolemia was the most common lipid abnormality (40.9%), followed by mixed hyperlipidemia. Lipoprotein (a) greater than 30 mg/dL was found in 13 cases. Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) in the patient's relatives was a marker for dyslipidemia (odds ratio, 7.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 59.7). These cases had a worse lipid profile. Cyclosporine-treated FCHL patients had higher lipid levels compared with the non-FCHL, cyclosporine-treated patients. The effects of cyclosporine on the lipid levels were lower, but significant, after the exclusion of the FCHL cases. CONCLUSION: Post-transplant dyslipidemia is determined by genetic and environmental factors. FCHL in the patient's relatives was associated with post-transplant hyperlipidemia; an additive effect with cyclosporine was found. The evaluation of the lipid profile of relatives may be useful for the assessment of the risk of post-transplant dyslipidemia.